Make-It, Take-It

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2004 : January : 26

Make-It, Take-It
By Jennie

In the past, our school has held "Make-It, Take-It" nights where parents create learning tools to use with their children at home. We have also done parent/students evenings on writing, where the parents come in an assume
the role of the child for an evening, while the kids take over the responsibilities of "teaching" a lesson on writing. The parents leave with a new respect for what the students must do to excel in writing. Of course I encourage attendance at P.T.O. meetings, and at every scheduled meeting I have a "test" on students' desks that parents are encouraged to take. The test covers material that

the students are currently studying; therefore, it is very evident which parents are working with their children at home and are aware of what is being covered in the classroom. I send home monthtly newsletters in which I ask for help with supplies, volunteers, suggestions for classroom activities. I also try to involve our parents in our quarterly community service projects. Some of them have never volunteered in the community before, so it is as much of a learning experience for them as it is for the students.

Keep in mind as you work on this National Board entry that whatever you decide to submit to showcase parental involvement that it first and foremost must show student learning. If the students are not benefiting from the involvement, then your score will reflect that.

Best of luck with National Boards! Let me know if I can be of more help to you in this process.

Jennie