Project read
- 1. Project Read
- 2. Effective strategies to increase parent involvement programs Engage in two-way, regular communication with families. Start with a needs assessment like Project Read Parental Involvement Checklist for schools and the Parental Involvement Report Card for parents. Tailor programs to schools' specific needs and be respectful of diversity. Clarify how parents can be involved in their children's education by asking parents to take our Parental Involvement Pledge. Foster a climate of mutual respect and trust. Welcome families into the school. (Blazer& Drake 2000)
- 3. VOLUNTEERING GOAL: Recruit and organize parent help and support Distribute Project Read’s learning compact known as the Parental Involvement Pledge to recruit and organize parent volunteers. Distribute Project Read's Parental Involvement Report Card. The Report Card is intended to help parents evaluate their contributions to their child's success at school . Use the Project Read's Parent Volunteer Database to identify all available talents, times, and locations of volunteers. Establish a parent room or center for volunteer work, meetings, and resources for families.
- 4. PARENTING GOAL: Help all families establish home environments to support children as students. Home visits at transition points to preschool, elementary, middle and high school; and neighborhood meetings to help families understand schools and to help schools understand families. School provides suggestions for home conditions that support learning at each grade level, provides workshops, videotapes, and/or computerized phone messages on parenting and child- rearing . Parent education and other courses or training for parents (e.g., GED, college credit; family literacy), and family support programs to assist families with health nutrition, and other services.
- 5. COMMUNICATING GOAL: Design more effective forms of school-to-home and home-to-school communications with all families each year about school programs and their children's progress. Parent and student pick-up of report card, with conferences with every parent at least twice a year, with follow-ups as needed. Weekly folders of student work are sent home and reviewed, parental comments returned to teacher. Regular schedule of useful notices, memos, phone calls, newsletters, and other communications.
- 6. LEARNING AT HOME GOAL: Provide information and ideas to families about how to help students at home with homework and other curricular-related activities, decisions, and planning. Information on homework policies and how to monitor, and discuss schoolwork at home, and skills required for students in all subjects at each grade. Information on how to assist students to improve skills on various class and school assignments. Regular schedule of homework that requires students to discuss and interact with families on what they are learning in class (e.g., TIPS). Goal setting for students with families each year, and for future plans for college or work.
- 7. DECISION MAKING GOAL: Include parents in school decisions, developing parent leaders and representatives. Active PTA/PTO or other parent organizations, school advisory councils for parent leadership and participation. District level councils and committees for family and community involvement. Independent advocacy groups to work for school improvements and to provide networks to link all families with parent representatives. Information on school or local elections for school representatives.
- 8. COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY GOAL: Identify and integrate resources and services from the community to strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning. Information for students and families on community health, cultural, recreational, social support, and other programs or COLLABORATING WITH services. COMMUNITY Information on community activities that link to learning skills and talents, including summer programs for students. Service to the community by students, families, and schools (e.g., recycling, art, music, drama, and other activities for seniors or others, etc.) .