REACHING+OUT+TO+PARENTS

=REACHING OUT TO PARENTS = = = Part of establishing exemplary literacy practices for students in grades 6 through 12 is ensuring that the activities and texts of the classroom reflects the cultural and social backgrounds of the students. It is also critical to involve parents in these activities. This not only shows your students that their parents value literacy, it also helps parents to have a better understanding of what is going on in the classroom. = = Many parents can feel overwhelmed or even inadequate when it comes to supporting the learning activities of their children. As a result it is very important to make parental outreach a key component of your lessons. = =

Here are some specific strategies that may prove to be successful:
= = - Have your students interview their parents or relatives. The interview can be about family history, a social issue or current events. The students can then use the information from the interview as material to write a paragraph, essay or to do a group project.

- Invite parents to participate in literacy activities or events that are centered around a holiday or season. These events can occur during the school day or may take place at night if that is more convenient for most parents. = = - Invite parents to come in and speak to the class. Perhaps this can be part of a career activity. = = - Parents who are college graduates may be willing to come in and speak to high school students about their college experiences. This could be an introductory activity toward college application essay writing. = = - Create a classroom survey about a current event or political issue that students can then take home and give to family members. = = - Have students write a persuasive essay regarding a privilege they may want at home. Have them go home and read it to their parents. Ask for a sentence of parental feedback. = = - Create a book club where parents and students read the same book and then join in a discussion group, perhaps one evening per month.

- Utilize email as a tool to update parents and communicate with them in a timely fashion.

- Create a class website where you can post schedules, assignments, high quality websites and suggested reading materials. = = =Next Page =