Middle School Matinee
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Transcript of Middle School Matinee
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Middle School Matinee:
Using Media to Involve Parents
Drs. Carl Walley & David KommerAshland University
Ashland, Ohio
http://amleparents.pbworks.com
Types of Involvement (Epstein, Sanders, Simon, Salinas, Jansorn, & Van Voorhis, 2002)
Parenting Skills: assisting parents in
understanding adolescent behavior
and development
Volunteering: involving parents in
school activities
Communities: providing information
and contacts with community resources
and community efforts
Decision-Making: involving parents in school governance through advisory
groups
Communication: contact with families
about school programs and student progress. All efforts
involve communications.
Learning at Home: involving parents in
homework, goal setting, and projects
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Why Communicate With Parents
•Positive behavior•Improved attendance•Improved self-esteem•Positive achievement•Increased graduation rates•Improvements are across all SES levels
•(V. Anfara, 2008)
Why Communicate?
Parent involvement is a positive initiative that communicates to students that adults care about their well being and school performance. (Fan & Chen, 2001)
Communications between school and home is a facet of school involvement. (Myers & Monson, 1992)
Resistance to Communications
Despite the clearly documented benefits of parent involvement for students’ achievement and attitudes toward school, parent involvement of all types declines progressively during the elementary school years. By middle grade school, the home school connection has been significantly reduced, and some cases is non-existent.
(Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, 1989)
Resistance Points to Communications With Parents
Adolescent Development is associated with a natural tendency to withdraw from parental influence and increase the influence of peers.
Parents may have a personal discomfort with school based on their own school experiences.
Language barriers either from non standard English backgrounds , or Non English speaking/reading parents.
The formal language register used by school personnel and the informal register of low SES parents creates a communications barrier.
Virtual Proximity – Addresses Resistance Points
Adolescents enjoy technology and the personal nature of DVD, Glogster, etc. Parental discomfort with
school.
The virtual nature personal type contact with parents, yet they control their contactVisual nature of some forms facilitates understanding, translations can be made by students as they watch with parents or translated copies can be made.
Language barriers
Tendency for adolescents to withdraw from parents.
Adolescent Development Assignment
Learning at Home
What are some strategies where Virtual Proximity might lead to greater learning at home?
Share ideas you are already using at school that facilitate positive parent involvement.
Problems or concerns related to using any of the ideas we presented in this session.
Suggestions for Communicating with Parents
1. Use the informal language register. Speak as you would with a colleague or friend.
2. Enlist students in the production of the content and product.
3. Use multiple sources to communicate.
4. Put your best foot forward – initiate positive contacts.
5. Work to accommodate parents schedules.
6. Give them information that helps them - not just you and the school.
Thanks
Session # 1442: Middle School Matinee
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