Active Parent Involvement

What Every Parent Should Know to Help Their Child Have a Successful School

Year

Connie McknightTuscarora High SchoolTeacher and Campus Facilitator

Parental Involvement• Parental involvement is critical to student success. Research: Students who have caring

adults supporting them through the k-12 educational process out-perform those who do not have a caring adult involved.

• School administration should be transparent. Parents should know school data (School's mission and vision for students, SOL scores, school rank, suspension rates, achievement gaps between minority and white students, suspension rates between students)

Three Levels of Parental Involvement in Schools

1. Uninvolved Parent

2. Reactive Parent

3. Proactive and Committed Parent

Uninvolved Parent• Disinterested in child's education• Does not know child's teachers, counselors,

principal• Does not attend school functions specific to

their child i.e. conferences, BTSN, games and events

• Puts 100% of responsibility of child's academic success on school and teachers

• Parent may go 4 years (high school) without stepping foot into the school or talking to the child's teachers

Reactive Parent• Minimal interest in child's education• Only gets involved when the school calls home (usually

for negative reason)• Will only come to school and attend meetings when

requested (usually for something negative)• Adopts a "Don't ask don't tell" attitude and only expects a

call for negative behavior (detrimental to child)• The child now develops a mindset that the only time a

parent is to be involved is when they get in trouble• May know the names of child's teachers but has not

established a working relationship with them • Puts majority of responsibility of child's education on the

school

Proactive and Committed Parent

• Has personal/positive working relationship with child's teachers, counselor and principal

• Is a familiar face at the school (volunteer, attends meetings, BTSN, touching bases, etc)

• Participates in meetings, IEP's, 504's, parent conferences as an active team member– ii. As a parent you want to be involved in

decision making process • Provides teachers with helpful input on how

their child learns including strengths and weaknesses (you know your child best)

Proactive and Committed Parent cont.• Closely monitors child's academic progress and intervenes as

necessary– Demands parents teacher conferences when child has drop

in grades or sees changes in behavior – Demands teachers/school to provide prescriptive plan of

action to raise achievement or improve behavior– Requires specific details when child is not successful (does

not settle for "Billy doesn't pay attention or doesn't do homework)

• Supports child with athletics and extracurricular activities

• Member of school sponsored parent organizations such as PTSA, booster clubs, chaperone

 

Get Connected

Visit your student’s school websiteAccess Clarity weeklyVisit the LCPS website

http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/site/default.aspx?PageID=1

Discuss course selection with your student. Review course expectations and course syllabi Click on “Academics” once on the county website

Know your child’s strengths and weaknessesMake yourself accessible to your child and

their teachers

We want every child to

R.E.A.C.Htheir potential

Recognizing Engaging Advocating

Challenging Helping

Recognizing:

Students must recognize their strengths and challenges in order to reach into their full

academic potential.

Through R.E.A.C.H. students will determine their learning styles, areas of need and ways

to adapt to their different learning environments.

Engaging:

Students must be engaged in their education and be stake holders and decision

makers.

Through R.E.A.C.H. students will learn how to be an active participant in and out of the

classroom setting.

Advocating:

Students must learn to advocate for themselves by developing effective

communication skills.

Through R.E.A.C.H. students will learn how to handle various situations in a positive way.

Challenging:

Students must learn to challenge themselves and step outside of their comfort zone.

Through R.E.A.C.H. students will set goals and access their progress towards their

goals.

Helping:

Students must use their talents and abilities to help others.

Through R.E.A.C.H. students will participate in activities that assist people in their families,

community and surrounding areas.

Lessons for R.E.A.C.H.

Week One (January 15th) – Getting to Know You (Who are you?)

Week Two (January 22th) – What I Like About Me (Self Image)Week Three (January 29th) – Strengths and Areas of Need (A

starting point)Week Four (February 5th) – Setting Goals and Reaching ThemWeek Five (February 12th) – How to Deal with ConflictWeek Six (February 19th) – Standing Up for What is RightWeek Seven (February 26th) – Time Management (A

balancing act) 

R.E.A.C.H. Summer Camp 2012

June 18-22

Times: 8am – 4pm Place: Will Power Sport and Fitness in Ashburn , Virginia Themes: June “Well-Rounded and Fit” /July “Literacy and Real

Life Experience" Age Groups: 2nd – 8th grade Cost: $150 per week Brief Description: Children will explore several different

activities including community service, positive self image, staying fit and eating healthy.

A healthy lunch and snacks will be served

Day 1 – RecognizingWho are you?How do you learn?What is important to you?How does your environment affect you?How do you affect the people around you?

Day 2 – EngagingAre you paying attention?Are you involved?Do you make a difference?Have you tried new things? 

Day 3 – AdvocatingIs your voice being heard?Do your family, friends and community know

where you stand?Influence/Persuasion

Day 4 – ChallengingAre you doing extra?Are you setting goals and assessing your

growth?

Day 5 – HelpingWhat would you do (in specific situations)?Pay it forward!No act of kindness is too small!

A component of staying fit and eating healthy will be discussed each day

Applications will be available on April 30th!

You will find the application on my Tuscarora Teacher Websitewww.loudoun.k12.v2a.us Tuscarora Constance Mcknight Campus

orYou may email me at constance.mcknight@lcps.org