The Department of Education states that... “Families are the first educators of their children and they continue to influence their children’s learning and development during the school years and long afterwards.” Therefore, as educators, we need to create and support relationships where parents and teachers are seen as allies in education. Research by the Department of Education shows that high levels of parental and community involvement plays a significant part in achieving student success. Current policy provides 20 elements of best teacher practice that can assist in making this happen. Here I’ve highlighted eight key components.
1. Make it clear you think of parents as genuine partners
2. Use personal contact. It is the most effective form of communication.
3. Ask for, and value, the opinion of parents
4. Go out of your way to make parents feel welcome and valued.
5. Build bridges across cultural and language divides.
6. Show leadership, be visible and available.
7. Don’t be frightened to ask parents to help solve big problems.
8. Be realistic, patient, and a bit brave.
These components all point to one uniting element. Communication. Wichowski states that communication between parents and teachers is integral for student success.
But what IS students success? It goes beyond just academic success. It is also about how they develop as individuals, and socially responsible leaders. Conley describes success as being a journey. For example, Thomas Edison failed to invent the light bulb over 1000 times. But when confronted with this he replied... “I didn’t fail. I now know a thousand ways not to build a light bulb. I only needed one way to make it work.” It seems that at certain periods of one’s life, success is defined differently. One success builds on another. Setbacks and mistakes will also help to build success.
Last week, I interviewed the Principal of St John’s Primary School, Mr Paul Wilson. Here is what he had to say about defining student success and the role teachers play in working towards achieving student success.
Play interview video.
After having sent out a questionnaire to many local teachers, I found that their general view on achieving student success is focused mainly on building parent/teacher partnerships. Thus, encouraging parents to get involved with opportunities, such as, reading groups, homework, excursions, and learning at home. These teachers value the role parents play in education and address barriers to parental involvement in schools through practising good communication, such as, parent/teacher meetings, reports, and discussions. The teachers’ point of view is that the bond between home and school does impact students in a positive manner where students can succeed.
In conclusion, when parents and teachers work together it sends a clear, consistent, and positive message to students that school is important, that learning is important and that achievement is expected. In order for students to succeed, parents and teachers must communicate and work together.
Kyle talks
Thank you Kylie. Before concluding our presentation, we would like to set you a challenge. Your challenge is to make the system work. Using what your package contains; you will be expected to make a lettuce, cheese and tomato sandwich in 60 seconds. Your time starts now.
Make sandwich
What do you think was the purpose of this challenge?
What would have happened if we had of taken Kyle out of the system?
So you can see that in order for any type of system to function effectively, it is integral for all components to work together. To sum up, throughout our daily lives we participate in many operating systems. From an educational view point, you can see that each of the quadrants play a critical role in contributing to students’ success. We now understand that communication is key and when one quadrant fails to communicate effectively, the systems itself, fails the student. As, future learning managers, the answer is to look at the whole picture, not just your individual role as a teacher, but to build the bridge which links each component through good communication practice. Which is why strengthening the bonds between home and school is integral in ensuring students success.
References:
Conley, (2006). Aligning the journey with a destination. Lexilie
Department of Education, (2006)., Family-school partnerships framework: a guide for schools and families. Retrieved from: http://www.familyschool.org.au/pdf/framework.pdf on 31/04/2010
Edison, T., (1877). as quoted in From Telegraph to Light Bulb with Thomas Edison (2007) by Deborah Hedstrom, p. 22
Wichowski, (2004). The PSSA guide book for educators, students, parents. the Temple University Center.
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