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WHAT'S NEW - APRIL 2004

WORKING WITH PARENTS TO SUPPORT IMPROVED STUDENT LEARNING

Welcome to the website for the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS). This area of the website changes monthly. The theme for this month will be of interest to teachers, administrators, and parents who are exploring issues related to teachers working with parents to support improved student learning. The section below identifies several weblinks related to the topic. We hope that you find this website to be a valuable resource. For quick reference bookmark http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca today!

WEBSITES RELATED TO WORKING WITH PARENTS TO SUPPORT IMPROVED STUDENT LEARNING

Alberta Home and School Councils' Association (AHSCA).
Copyright © 2004 AHSCA
http://www.ahsca.ab.ca/

Parents are major partners in the education of their children. At a local level, school councils are forums in which teachers, school administrators and parents can share concerns about students and determine the steps that might be necessary to improve student learning. This website sponsored by the Alberta Home and School Councils' Association serves as a measure of parental involvement in school decision making across the province. The newsletters, news releases, and events available under the header "What's New" provide information about recent initiatives at the provincial level. Preparations are under way for a conference in Edmonton (April 2004) regarding parental involvement in schools.

Engaging the Community to Support Student Achievement. 2002
Cunningham, C.
http://www.ericfacility.net/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed464395.html

This ERIC Digest (ED464395) highlights the school community relationship as a means of improving student learning. The report proposes a familiar theme, namely, that it is important to obtain wide-based community support in planning for school initiatives aimed at enhancing student achievement. Communication efforts are essential. Public engagement can, for example, incorporate the involvement of teachers, parents, and community businesses. The participation of community stakeholders increases the likelihood of success for school programs. In particular, this report looks at the roles of school boards and school administrators in inviting the desired public engagement. The digest also includes references for further study. This digest might be of particular interest to school principals.

EverLinks/Communication.
Copyright © 2002 Marion Rex
http://www.ecsrd.ab.ca/JPII/everlinks.htm

Communication between home and school lies at the heart of promoting parental involvement in school activities. John Paul II School in Stony Plain, Alberta, is employing a new technology called EverLinks to facilitate communication between teachers and parents. This new communications channel consists of an online web-service for teachers, parents, and students. The service is fast and efficient. The web-service enables teachers and parents to share information about school activities-for example, homework, newsletters, school team schedules, and upcoming events. This innovative technology is in use throughout the entire school division.

Key Players in our Education System: Information for Parents.
Copyright © 2004 Government of Alberta
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/BackToSchool/Parents.asp

This web page originating with Alberta Learning is part of an online kit for parents of children returning to school. The web page presents information to parents at the start of the school year on a variety of topics-for example, instructional time, school choice, school fees, and other helpful tips. The resources presented online include curriculum handbooks for parents, multimedia, and an overview of the education system. Various print materials are also available. The guiding assumption is that parents can encourage and reinforce their children's learning at home. Parents are stakeholders in their children's education, along with teachers, school councils, and school boards. Parents who are informed, for example, about the curriculum that their children are following are in a better position to support their children's learning.

Meaningful Parental Involvement. 2000
Key Components of Programming for Parents of Children With Disabilities
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/specialneeds/unlocking/unlock_3.pdf

This online pamphlet prepared by Alberta Learning focuses on the particular importance of teacher and administrator communication with the parents of children with disabilities. The six-page pamphlet begins by acknowledging that barriers to communication can indeed exist, either on the part of parents or on the part of teachers and administrators. The pamphlet encourages teachers to make efforts to involve parents and offers specific suggestions such as the practice of good listening skills and frequent efforts at obtaining parental input. The intended outcome of the communication is a collaborative relationship that enhances the likelihood of improving the children's behavior and attitudes. The pamphlet concludes with references to other resources available at Alberta Learning.

Parents Focused on Improving Student Achievement. 2003
The Compass Online
Edmonton Public Schools
Edmonton, Alberta
http://compass.epsb.net/09_06_2003/focused.html

In this web page, Edmonton Public Schools indicate their strong support for the involvement of parents in schools. The basic theme is that parents make the difference in their children's learning and are partners in schooling. The web page focuses selectively on Delwood School, its teachers, parents and the school council as an illustrative case. The case study demonstrates what levels of parental involvement are possible. The efforts of teachers at Delwood have been directed to involving parents in an instructional focus, even to the extent of involving parents in in-service activities. The account of the experience at Delwood gives prominence to the role of the school council as furnishing an opportunity for teachers and parents to communicate their concerns to each other. Parental contributions have shown themselves invaluable. This school's effort exemplifies a collaborative approach to the improvement of student achievement.

Parents' Page.
Copyright © University of Alberta and Faculty of Education, 2000
http://www.quasar.ualberta.ca/AISI/UofA_AISI/links.htm

This web page is sponsored by the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI). It offers a promising collection of electronic resources for parents. The links originate with a number of education players within the province as well as with supportive organizations and agencies beyond. Overall, the resources point to the broad range of issues that can prompt parental involvement in a school-for example, curriculum, language, health and giftedness. The AISI approach to school improvement stresses collaboration between parents and the school.

This web page is intended to encourage parental involvement. Within a few short paragraphs this web page develops the position that communication between parents and teachers is central to the success of student learning. The web page enlarges on the ways in which parents and teachers can readily communicate. Teachers appreciate parental interest in their children's progress. Volunteering for in school activities provides parents with occasions to understand school programs. Appropriate phone calls are a time-honored method of communication between home and school. Parent-teacher conferences are the occasion for teachers to build a healthy relationship with their children's teachers.

Here is a web document that might be of use to parents and teachers planning conferences about students' progress. This web page, updated in October 2003, offers a checklist for planning parent teacher conferences. The format presented divides the checklist into three parts: (1) before the conference, (2) during the conference, and (3) after the conference. Most of the advice offered is related to the first two parts. As it stands, the checklist requires a great deal of preparation and involvement on the part of both participants.

This Alberta website offers a set of rich resources for parents who want to become more involved in helping their children do homework in a digital learning environment. The resources are offered at three levels: elementary (Kids), junior high school (Teens), and senior high school (Senior). The website is user-friendly and makes allowance for parents who are becoming familiar with the Internet. The resources are prepared by teachers and related to Alberta curriculum. There are, for example, suggestions for homework help, searching on the Internet, writing reports, and even having fun. The website also evidences a concern for children's safety on the Internet.

Sandhills Information Directory For Parents. 2002
Sandhills Elementary School Handbook
La Crete, Alberta
http://www.fvsd.ab.ca/sandhills/handbook.htm#Communication

This web page from Fort Vermilion School Division illustrates many facets of communication between home and school. Exhibiting a handbook format, this web page lists some 37 points of information of possible interest to parents and the general community. The document clarifies a great number of expectations regarding the school, including homework, student discipline, and report cards. Under the header "Staff Meetings," there is a link to information about the activities of the Sandhills School Council. The index also makes specific mention of meetings with parents, school volunteers, and communications with parents.

Schools Plus Parents: A Formula for Improving Education.
Garcia, C.
Copyright © 2004 Connect for Kids
http://www.connectforkids.org/benton_ftr_text1606/benton_ftr_text_show.htm?doc_id=82763&parent=82761

The movement toward parental involvement in schools has persisted for over a decade in the United States. This web page, sponsored by the National Educational Association, gives evidence of the widespread trend for parents to participate in their children's schooling. Teachers want to help children develop to their potential but they require backing from other caregivers. The local community can be a source of support for efforts at school improvement. Parent-teacher conferences provide invaluable support for the success of schooling. Online resources for further study are provided.