Parent Leadership in Education: Resource Roundup

Resources by Topic:

• Why Parent Involvement Is Essential
• Opening the Lines of Communication
• How Families Can Take Action
• Learning More about Educational Topics
• Schools with Strong Family Partnerships
• Additional Resources on the Web

Why Parent Involvement Is Essential

• On Developing Partnerships Between Parents and Teachers, by Elena Aguilar (2011)

  Parent and teacher Elena Aguilar explains why teacher-parent relationships are critical to student success.

• Teachers and Parents as Partners, by James Daly (2007)

  Bringing educators into students’ homes builds trust and gets Mom and Dad into the education process.

• Parents Are a Secret Weapon Just Waiting to Be Discovered, by Roberta Furger (2006)

  Scientists say parents partnering with teachers can change the future of education.

• Getting Parents Involved Is the Foundation of Student Success, by Michael Seville (2005)

  When Mom and Dad come to class, kids do better.

• The Home-School Team: An Emphasis on Parent Involvement, by James P. Comer, Norris Haynes (1997)

  Students thrive when their parents become part of the classroom.

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Opening the Lines of Communication

• Connecting School and Home: 360-Degree Communication, by Matt Levinson (2012)

  School administrator and author Matt Levinson provides a startup kit for the parents of future middle school students and digital citizens.

• Parents and Teachers: The Possibility of a Dream Team, by Dr. Richard Curwin (2012)

  Blogger Richard Curwin looks at improving the sometimes dysfunctional dynamic between teachers and parents by having them respect each other's efforts and put the student first.

• What Parents Want in School Communication, by Anne O'Brien (2011)

  Results from a recent national survey can help schools develop better strategies for reaching out to parents.

• For Kids' Sake, Let's Connect Parents and Schools, by Suzie Boss (2010)

  Edutopia contributor Suzie Boss introduces the Home-to-School Connections Guide, which provides relevant and valuable tools for strengthening the bonds between schools and families.

• Parents Use Social Media to Stay Connected to the Classroom, by Andrew Marcinek (2010)

  Blogger Andrew Marcinek shares his favorite tech tips for engaging parents.

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How Families Can Take Action

• 
  Media and Digital Literacy: Resources for Parents, by Common Sense Media (2012)

  Young people are immersed in technology in ways previous generations could not have even imagined. Here's a list of resources for parents seeking advice and information about how to help their children explore smart and stay safe.



• 
  Social and Emotional Learning: Resources for Parents, by Edutopia Staff (updated 2012)

  Check out this guide for parents to learn how to encourage emotionally intelligent behavior in their children.



• 
  Project-Based Learning: Resources for Parents, by Suzie Boss (updated 2012)

  A great list of ways parents can encourage and support their child -- and their child's school -- in project-based learning.



• 
  Assessment and Testing: Resources for Parents, by Roberta Furger (updated 2012)

  We've compiled a list of resources to help parents understand high-stakes testing, different forms of assessment, and school achievement data.



• Creating a Strong Parent Community, by Marisa Kaplan (2011)

  Many parents want to help but do not know how. Blogger and elementary teacher Marisa Kaplan shares some ideas for getting parents engaged and involved.

• How to Market Your School to Other Parents, by Edutopia Staff (2009)

  Six tips for encouraging families to enroll children in the urban school your kids attend.

• Parents Power School Reform, by Grace Rubenstein (2009)

  Houston's Hogg Middle School is raising the bar, with help from YES Prep and some pushy parents.

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Learning More about Educational Topics

• A Parent's Guide to 21st-Century Learning, by Suzie Boss (2012)

  What should collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking look like in a modern classroom? How can parents help educators accomplish their goals? Find out in this guide.

• Think Before You Click: Internet Safety Tips for Parents, by Matt Levinson (2012)

  Blogger Matt Levinson guides parents through educating their children about the online world, where clicks have consequences.

• A Parent's Guide to Twitter and Education, by Joe Mazza (2012)

  Principal and Parent Teacher Chat moderator Joe Mazza explains the benefits for parents and educators alike of participating on Twitter.

• Project-Based Learning: A Parent Primer, by Kathy Baron (2010)

  Learn the benefits of project-based learning and how you can help make it successful at your children's school.

• Common Sense Tips for Digital Generation Parents (2009)

  Common Sense Media offers five practical pointers to help parents understand and manage the lives of their digital kids.

• A Parent Primer on Social and Emotional Learning, by Grace Rubenstein (2009)

  Learn the benefits of nurturing students' social skills and how to make it happen at their school.

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Schools with Strong Family Partnerships

• Cultivating Parent Engagement (2009)

  A focus on family involvement is one reason for student success in the rigorous college-prep environment at YES Prep North Central in Houston, Texas.

• Making Connections Between Home and School: Parents Become Active Participants, by Roberta Furger (2002)

  Through a home-visit program, schools in Sacramento, California realize the many benefits of parent involvement.

• Cultivating Parent Leaders: One School District's Story, by Roberta Furger (2000)

  Parents step to the head of the class as advocates for their district's students in Southern California.

• Making Points for Parent Involvement: Getting Folks to Get Involved, by Edutopia Staff (1997)

  Parent involvement plays a vital role in a child's ability and eagerness to learn. Here are four case studies of schools that have found creative ways to get parents engaged.

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