Looking to transform your school environment and keep parents engaged in a true partnership? Our comprehensive list of 17 unique and effective engagement strategies is designed specifically for school administrators who want to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic school culture.
If you are reading this, you are probably either a school PTO leader, principal or room mom trying to figure out how to get more parents involved! Know this, you are not alone! Schools across the country struggle to get the participation that they want and need everyday! I've been there too. Here's the scenario... My son attended a middle school with approximately 700 kids that was in need of a PTO leader. Sure, why not! I love education, kids and planning so how bad could it be? Right?!?! Wrong! I almost immediately realized that getting people to actually come help with anything was difficult. Honestly, it felt impossible. I had a mini pity party and decided that wasn't going to cut it! These are good people that love their kids. I knew that! Now, I just needed to come up with how to get them involved! That leads me to the topic of this post! How to Increase Parent Engagement at Your School First and foremost, remember that you were willing to step up. Whether that was out of guilt, because there was no one else or you are part of an amazing school that has an active PTO, someone cares about the PTA group! The reality is, while it may not seem like it, everyone wants it to work. They just aren't jumping up and down saying
Parent involvement matters. In this post, the benefits of having parent support are shared. Parent handouts for teachers are included.
If you are reading this, you are probably either a school PTO leader, principal or room mom trying to figure out how to get more parents involved! Know this, you are not alone! Schools across the country struggle to get the participation that they want and need everyday! I've been there too. Here's the scenario... My son attended a middle school with approximately 700 kids that was in need of a PTO leader. Sure, why not! I love education, kids and planning so how bad could it be? Right?!?! Wrong! I almost immediately realized that getting people to actually come help with anything was difficult. Honestly, it felt impossible. I had a mini pity party and decided that wasn't going to cut it! These are good people that love their kids. I knew that! Now, I just needed to come up with how to get them involved! That leads me to the topic of this post! How to Increase Parent Engagement at Your School First and foremost, remember that you were willing to step up. Whether that was out of guilt, because there was no one else or you are part of an amazing school that has an active PTO, someone cares about the PTA group! The reality is, while it may not seem like it, everyone wants it to work. They just aren't jumping up and down saying
Family and Community Engagement is essential. It is important to involve the entire school in creating an environment that supports parents. We
Explore fresh ideas for parent involvement and power up your new school year. Uncover new strategies to engage and collaborate with parents in the classroom journey.
Parent involvement activities for daycare help you bond with parents and build relationships! Quality care is important, but communication is too.
If you are reading this, you are probably either a school PTO leader, principal or room mom trying to figure out how to get more parents involved! Know this, you are not alone! Schools across the country struggle to get the participation that they want and need everyday! I've been there too. Here's the scenario... My son attended a middle school with approximately 700 kids that was in need of a PTO leader. Sure, why not! I love education, kids and planning so how bad could it be? Right?!?! Wrong! I almost immediately realized that getting people to actually come help with anything was difficult. Honestly, it felt impossible. I had a mini pity party and decided that wasn't going to cut it! These are good people that love their kids. I knew that! Now, I just needed to come up with how to get them involved! That leads me to the topic of this post! How to Increase Parent Engagement at Your School First and foremost, remember that you were willing to step up. Whether that was out of guilt, because there was no one else or you are part of an amazing school that has an active PTO, someone cares about the PTA group! The reality is, while it may not seem like it, everyone wants it to work. They just aren't jumping up and down saying
Do you want to develop lasting relationships with your parents and families? Use this ultimate list of parent workshop topics and start engaging today.
Family and Community Engagement is essential. It is important to involve the entire school in creating an environment that supports parents. We
Even finicky middle schoolers will have fun with these ideas and events—although they probably won’t admit it.
Are you looking for ways to have classroom parent volunteers? Here is a list of 50 ideas to use parent volunteers int the classroom. #parentvolunteers #classroommanagement
Are you struggling to find effective student engagement strategies for the classroom that are easy to implement and actually work? This is the list for you!
Learn the secret to keep parents coming back to your PTO meetings month after month! So many ideas to keep your meeting attendance high!
19 Proven Tips for Getting Parents Involved at School
Parent involvement activities for daycare help you bond with parents and build relationships! Quality care is important, but communication is too.
The Elementary Parent Engagement Poster is an essential tool tailored for parents of elementary students, offering insightful guidance and practical tips to enhance involvement in their child's education. With colorful graphics and concise information, this poster serves as a valuable resource, fostering strong partnerships between parents, educators, and young learners for academic growth and holistic development. Printed on high-quality, heavy cardstock with a protective UV coating or on high-quality, peel and stick, non-permanent vinyl.
I'm the kind of person that likes to get ready for the next year before the end of this year. I know. You can call me crazy. It's ok. I understand. But it's the way I am. So what am I getting ready? Forms to send home during Meet and Greet: My Parent Survey (it's free!). I keep this in my communication folder. This is what I send home so that I can take pictures for my blog. I know it has my information on it, but if you need it for something else, then maybe you can use it as a template. Click HERE to download it. And I send this home so that I can show some movies that are apparently PG. Click HERE to download it. Click the picture below to get all these forms in my {TPT store} I'm also restocking my calendar bins for next year! Head over to {THIS} post to see how I organize all of my monthly calendar-type activities. I already have my calendar pieces done...but I'm getting ready all the pages that I want to use IN the calendar bundle. Check out my post on the calendar bundle HERE. Our monthly poetry covers are printed up for the year. Find out how I use poetry in the classroom and download the covers for free {HERE} I also have our monthly writing journal covers ready to go... the journals themselves aren't done yet, but hopefully I'll have a wonderful parent volunteer next year to do them for me. See how I use the journals and download the covers for free {HERE}. I've also sent my Spelling Journals to the Print Shop. I'm opting to use these this year instead of doing my phonics notebook, only because it's my first year in First grade AND at my new school, so I want to see what they can handle before I dive in full force! haha. But I used my Phonics Notebook this year and LOVED it...You can check that out HERE. I've also sent my Vocabulary Journals to our print shop (I like send things to the print shop because they copy off a whole class set, with a cover and back cover AND bind them with a spiral thingy.... to me, NOT having to do it is worth me paying for it! lol) Check out my vocabulary Journals HERE. I also have copied off all the writing pages and family notes for our Monthly Family Projects! IF I have enough time, I might even get frisky and run off all the templates for the crafts! I'm also getting ready our Memory Books for next year... as we're finishing up this year's Memory books! lol You can read more about them {HERE} There are "All About Me" pages for the beginning of the year and the end of the year, so you can see the difference between the 2 times of year. It's always so fun to see the changes! Then, there are monthly writing pages, so the students can write about what they learned that month. The kids have really been having fun with this. Check them out in my TpT store {HERE}. You can grab a FREEBIE from these memory books {HERE} I have also printed out and laminated my personal behavior charts that I use from Rachelle. You can read my post on how I use them {HERE}, although, I must say, I am thinking of changing the plan...again! haha! I've also printed up my name tags for next year - I love that I don't have to go on a hunt to buy them every year! They have everything I want on them! You can download them for free on {THIS} post. I've had my wonderful parent volunteer trace and cut out my jerseys for me. In the beginning of the year, the kids decorate their jersey with their number on it and I leave them up all year. Why do they have numbers? FOR SO MANY THINGS! I have a post on what I use numbers for {HERE}. And last but not least, I got all planned out for next year! I came across Traci's curriculum planner, and I knew it would be perfect for me since I don't use the district adopted series. I have my whole year planned out! This is such a beautiful sight. I wish I had this for this year as a first year 1st grade teacher. but now I won't be so "lost" next year - haha! Check it out on Traci's blog {HERE}! WHEW!! That's a lot! And I still have more on my list to do for next year! And, um, this year isn't even over yet - haha! Oh well. I will be thankful next year in the beginning of the year.
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I’m not sure about you, but I always kind of dread Back-to-School Night. It’s late, I’m usually exhausted from the first couple of weeks of school, and many times the turnout isn’t even that great. I recently tried Back to School Night Stations though, and it was much better! I’ve had my fair share of Back-to-School Nights. I’ve done the standard ten-minute presentation where I talk about the class the entire time. I’ve had parents write notecards to their students. I even tried playing Kahoot! with parents one year, and that was just a trainwreck. Even with the best-laid plans, Back-to-School Nights are just awkward. At my school, we have six class periods. We have a ten-minute presentation for each class period that is supposed to be just for that class. Then, there is a ten-minute passing period. Parents often come in right at the start of the passing period, and for me, it’s just awkward having that weird silence with some parents waiting as I awkwardly stand at the door trying to guess what parents are mine.
Age appropriate discipline techniques for each phase of your children's development. Discipline tactics should be changed as your child ages.
Intentionally fostering interactions among teachers, parents, and community partners helped one school create a more inviting event.
Download this FREE Help Your Child Learn to Read reading tips brochure for your students' parents to support their child in learning to read.
Starting a room parent program at your school is now easier than ever. Get free room rarent recruitment flyers, welcome letter templates and sign up sheets.
Looking for the best show and tell ideas for kindergarten? You're in the right place. Besides ideas, we aim to provide a glimpse into all the benefits.
Parental involvement is very important to a child's success in school, but how can we get our parents in? This blog post shares information about how and why parental involvement matters. Resource Description: This resource includes a printable poster with 20 suggestions for involving your parents PLUS a parental involvement brochure which can be printed and given at the beginning of the year or at conference time. Parents may not be able to visit during the school day, but every parent can be involved. As much as possible, we should extend invitations to them.
Parents are a child’s first teacher. Building skills and learning at home is paramount for kids of all ages to be successful. I created Building Skills & Learning at Home:...
This is a quick and heartfelt “Back to School Night” activity to engage parents while encouraging students! Parents will "fill" the jar with their wishes, hopes, and goals for their child this school year. You can leave this quick parent activity on each students’ desk to complete as they come into your classroom. This activity is a great way to give parents something to do, while waiting for your presentation to begin. Students love coming in the following morning to see what their parents have written for them. This resource includes: Directions & Helpful Hints for this activity Parent Note to attach to the jar Jars in Multiple Sizes (4 to a page, 2 to a page, and 1 to a page) I hope you and your class enjoy this Back to School Night resource. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. :) Monica Abarca
How do I know it's back to school time? My plants are dead. All of my plants that I grew so lovingly in the spring, watered all ...
Find 10 suggestions on how to use parent volunteers in your classroom. Grab a FREE editable form to send home to help organize your volunteer schedule.
Science lessons and ideas for grade one science in British Columbia. Activities and experiments to teach all about matter, light and sound, adaptations of living things, weather, seasons, and space.
Do you ever wonder how your students' parents see you? Do they think you're a good teacher? Are they happy with the progress their child is making? Do they wish you would communicate more? Do they complain every night about the homework you send? I know many of us only see a parent once a year....at conferences or the annual IEP meeting....and sometimes not even then. Well this year my district is implementing the new teacher evaluation system using the Nevada Educator Performance Framework (NEPF). Here are standards 4 and 5 from the professional standards. While looking at standard 4, I thought, well I'm not lacking in communication. I send home daily behavior reports, a monthly newsletter, I have an updated class website, I use class messenger to send them reminders on their cell phones. I welcome parents to visit anytime, although they rarely do. But then I thought, how often do I really seek out their input, other than at the annual IEP meeting? And then when I looked at standard 5, I thought, now how am I going to achieve this? My students are MR, Autistic, and some non-verbal. I mean sure, I know my students know I value and care about them and I know they feel safe with me, but how am I going to provide evidence for this standard?? It can't just be what I know in my heart, it's all about the EVIDENCE! After sharing my thoughts with my principal, she came up with the idea of a parent survey. What a great idea?? I mean many of us do parent surveys at the beginning of the year but we are surveying their child. And schools do surveys surveying overall school performance. But what about a survey that allows parents to survey you and provide input??! Even when I googled it and searched TpT....nothing! So I've created a parent survey to improve my professional standards in this area and as part of my evidence for standards 4 and 5. You are welcome to snag it up and use it for free to survey your parents!
Download Free School Jokes Code Breaker Activity for Kids! This fun and educational resource helps sharpen problem-solving skills while adding
These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back
PTO sponsored school family fun night events are the key to a thriving and engaged school community. So many great ideas that your families will love!
Back to School Preschool Worksheets with all kinds of great activities for preschoolers to use all year round. Counting, letter recognition and much more.
Looking for new and fun ideas to help teach making inferences? I've got 5 engaging mini-lesson ideas for you to try in your elementary classroom!
