As summer vacation slowly winds down, the upcoming school year is front and center on most parents’ minds. One question many parents ask themselves, is how they can become more actively engaged in and supportive of their kids’ education. Here’s a list of some of the many ways you can involve yourself with their school.
Attend Back-To-School Night
Whether your kids are returning to the same school after the vacation or they’ll be enrolled in a brand-new school, it’s always a good idea to attend the yearly back-to-school night (sometimes referred to as back-to-school orientation). This is where you get to meet the school’s leadership team (principal and assistant principals), other important school staff like the parent coordinator (the main school-level point of contact for parents) and the school counselor, and oftentimes your kids’ classroom teachers.
Volunteer at School Events
During back-to-school night, you often learn about major events that are planned for the upcoming school year. This could be anything from dances, musical and theatrical performances, to art and science showcases. Take note of the dates these events will be held and consider volunteering at one of them. Most schools depend on parent volunteers to assist with these events, especially if they’re held in the evening or on weekends.
There are many other opportunities to volunteer your time and expertise. If you’re available during the day, you can help out in the school’s computer lab or library. You can also volunteer to be a lunch monitor in the cafeteria or, if you have the inclination, run a book club or offer tutoring either during lunch or after school.
Assist in the Classroom
If you’re more comfortable helping out in your kids’ classroom, consider assisting with math, reading, or writing instruction, or any other subject matter on which their teachers could use an extra pair of hands. Oftentimes, the kids produce a yearly or semi-yearly newsletter that updates parents on what they’ve been learning. If you’re good with computers, especially layout, volunteer to help out with the newsletter.
Work as a Chaperone on School Trips
Most schools organize one or more day or overnight trips. Many have a direct educational value, like visiting a local river to study the wildlife. Other times, it’s a trip intended to give the kids an opportunity to enjoy each other’s and their teachers’ company in a less stressful setting, like an excursion to a local amusement park. Whatever the case, serving as a chaperone is a great way to connect with other parents and your kids’ teachers.
Participate in Educational Sessions
Many schools host sessions throughout the year where educational experts, either from the outside (local professors of education) or internally (the school psychologist or the reading specialist) speak about important matters like child development and best practices with respect to curriculum and instruction. These sessions are a great source of information about the school’s specific educational philosophy and how you can support your kids’ learning.
Join the Fundraising Committee
Most schools, whether public or private, need extra funds to operate, and the fundraising committee needs volunteers to help raise those funds. Serving on the fundraising committee can also help you build relationships with other committed parents and the school’s leadership team.
Become a Member of the Parent-Teacher Association
If you want to become even more involved with your kids’ school, join the Parent-Teacher Association. It’s generally composed of highly committed parents and teachers who meet on a regular basis and serve as the liaisons to the school’s leadership team. If you want to have say on all the important decisions that affect your kids’ education and well-being, you’ll want to be a part of this important association.
Attend School Board Meetings
To get a broad perspective and exert influence on your kids’ education, attend local school board meetings or run for election to join the school board. Despite its name, in most instances a school board isn’t responsible for the operation of any single school, but rather for all the schools in a given district, city, or county.
Helping with Homework
An important, but often overlooked way to connect with your kids’ school is simply to help out with homework. If your kids don’t need any help, simply ask them about it. Homework is one of the best windows into what your kids are doing academically on a day-to-day basis, and it gives you an appreciation for where they’re excelling and where they might be struggling and need some extra help.
Email Teachers
Keep in regular contact with your kids’ teachers. Teachers will often encourage parents to email them with any questions or concerns. However, only email teachers if they’ve invited you to do so and make sure not to overdo it. Teachers have extremely busy lives, and you don’t want them to feel more overwhelmed than they already are.
Meet Up With Other Parents
Meet up with other parents from your kids’ class. It’s hard to overestimate the importance of getting to know other parents. Talking to other parents will give you a fresh perspective on what’s happening in the school, and you may even learn about other ways to become involved that you didn’t even know existed.
Attend Parent-Teacher Conferences
Finally, make sure to attend parent-teacher conferences. These are typically held once or twice a year. It’s the principal way to keep track of how your kids are doing academically and socially, and what they need to work on the most during the remainder of the school year.