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Blogs on Parental Involvement

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Twenty Tips for Developing Positive Relationships with Parents

Elena AguilarSeptember 23, 2011

Tags Parental Involvement, Primary (K-2), Teacher Development, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

In honor of Edutopia's 20th anniversary, we're producing a series of Top 20 lists, from the practical to the sublime.

Twenty Tips for Developing Positive Relationships with Parents

In our busy day of juggling papers, lesson planning and managing sometimes more than a hundred students, we can easily forget the group that could lend significant support in our charge as teachers

Listen, Please, Ron Clarke: On Developing Partnerships Between Parents and Teachers

Elena AguilarSeptember 14, 2011

Tags Parental Involvement, All Grades

I am saddened by this recent article by "acclaimed teacher and author," Ron Clarke who tells parents "what teachers really want to say." He does not speak for me -- not as a teacher or as a parent.

What Parents Want in School Communication

Anne OBrienAugust 31, 2011

Tags Parental Involvement, Teacher Development, All Grades

Most of the population declares their New Year's resolutions January 1. For educators, it happens closer to September 1. And often high on the list: improving relationships with parents.

How to Provide Meaningful Support Services in a Virtual School: Robust Family Support (Part 1 of 4)

Adrienne ScurryAugust 10, 2011

Tags Charter Schools, Online Learning, Parental Involvement, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), Pennsylvania

Adrienne Scurry is the Dean of the Family Support Department at the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School. The school won an the 2010 Award of Excellence in Student Services from the Pennsylvania Association of Public Services Administrators.

Okay, so we know the stereotypes and myths of virtual education, right? Students are not engaged. They sit in front of a computer all day. There are no opportunities for socialization. . .

As the Dean of the Family Support Department at the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PA Virtual), I am often asked, "How are support services offered in a cyber school?" To some degree, the concept of virtual education is still new in many states so I am always happy to explain how we do it!

Starting School off Smart: Take the Hassles Out of Homework

Maurice EliasAugust 9, 2011

Tags Curriculum, Homework, Parental Involvement, Primary (K-2), , Teacher Development, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

The new school year is around the corner. We all need to help parents make this a less hassled year than the one just past. My colleagues and I, in our new e-book, Emotionally Intelligent Parenting, have a series of parenting "sound bites" that give parents quick tips on common issues related to parenting.

Helping Children Become Emotionally Intelligent

Maurice EliasJuly 21, 2011

Tags Parental Involvement, , All Grades

It's summer time, and July 24 is Parents' Day. So let's break from school-related comments and take a moment to think about how to reduce some family stress and increase family closeness.

Using Blogs to Engage English-Language Learners

Jon SchwartzJuly 14, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Digital Divide, English-Language Learners, Literacy, Online Learning, Parental Involvement, Student Engagement, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), English Language Arts, California

Jon Schwartz teaches fourth grade in Oceanside, CA. He is also a writer and a professional photographer. You can learn more about his blogging program at Kids Like Blogs.

"Robbie doesn't write," his mom told me. When he first came into my fourth grade class, asking him for 20 words was like pulling teeth. He actually scribbled a number on top of each word to keep track so he wouldn't write any more than the absolute minimum. Four months after I introduced him to blogging, he's consistently writing more than 100 words per post. Not only that, Robbie turned from a shy, introverted kid to a source of inspiration and information for his peers. He sees himself as a writer.

How to Manage the "Late to the Game" Parent

Holden ClemensJune 16, 2011

Tags Parental Involvement, Teacher Development, All Grades

Holden Clemens (a pseudonym) is a teacher in Springfield, U.S.A. Here, he continues his series on practical tips for working with the gamut of exasperating educational archetypes.

Actual email I received the other day:

Dear mr. Clemens,

I was wondering if their was anything my son could do to bring up their grade in ur class. He currently has a D- and I would really like to see him earn a b or better. What can you do to help him. Thanks for your help.

Building Math Positivity

Judy Willis MDDecember 1, 2010

Tags Brain Research, Parental Involvement, Primary (K-2), Teacher Development, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), Math

Today's guest blogger is Judy Willis. A former neurologist, Judy is now is an elementary and middle school teacher as well as the author of numerous books on the brain and learning. This post is an excerpt from her latest,
Learning to Love Math. Read More

Help Parents Use Social Media to Stay Connected to the Classroom

Andrew MarcinekAugust 5, 2010

Tags Parental Involvement, , Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Last week on #edchat we discussed the myths of social media and how it gets a bad reputation. The conversation was scattered in many directions, but most came back to one simple solution: transparency.