- Give positive feedback and show
appreciation for teachers and the principal.
- Approach interactions with a positive
attitude and an open mind.
- Listen to others 'viewpoints.
- Share your child's strengths, talents, and
interests with your child's teachers.
- Share expectations and set goals together
for your child.
- Make appointments as needed to discuss
your child's progress or concerns.
- Attend parent-teacher conferences with
specific questions you want to ask.
- Indicate the best way to give you
information (phone, e-mail, notes, etc.).
- Understand and reinforce school rules and
expectations at home.
- Participate in informal opportunities to
talk with and get to know school staff and educators.
- Address concerns or questions honestly,
openly, and early on.
- Attend PTA or parent meetings
regularly.
- Read classroom and/or school
newsletters.
- Visit your school's web page
- Know school staffs extensions and office
hours.
- Read and know your school's
handbook.
- Request that information be available in
all relevant languages.
- Share your family's culture, values, and
parenting practices with your child's school.
- Share your perceptions with educators and
school staff of how parents are treated
- Work with school staff and educators to
revise and improve perceptions and school climate.
- Meet your child's friends and get to know
their parents
- Contact your school for information on
family programs and resources.
- Help establish a parent center at school
and use its resources.
- Help create a toy/book lending library and
visit it regularly.
- Assist in developing parent support
programs/groups and attend them.
- Attend workshops or seminars on various
parenting topics.
- Participate in parenting classes on child
development, expectations, discipline, etc.
- Attend parent fairs and other events
especially for parents and families.
- Start a parent book club to discuss
current publications.
- Help create and/or contribute to a school
newsletter on parenting.
- Assist in creating and/or offer your
services to before- and after-school programs
- Build a child file with medical records,
pictures, fingerprints, etc.
- Make donations and/or offer to work at
clothing drives or swaps, food co-ops, etc.
- Talk with your child's teacher for ideas
on parent/child games and activities.
- Discuss your child's school day and
homework daily.
- Learn your child's strengths and
weaknesses in different areas of school.
- Provide a quiet, well-lighted place with
basic school supplies for studying/homework.
- Help your children break down projects
into smaller, more manageable steps.
- Develop a consistent daily routine and
time for studying and homework
- Provide encouragement and approval for
effort and schoolwork.
- Share your interests, hobbies, and talents
with your children.
- Provide children with books, magazines,
and so forth, and a nighttime reading routine.
- View selected TV programs together and
then review and discuss them.
- Make family trips to the library, zoo,
museum, or park a fun learning experience.
- Talk with your child's teacher on creating
home learning games and activities.
- Complete interactive homework assignments
with your child.
- Attend meetings on learning expectations,
assessment, and grading procedures.
- Help set goals and develop a personalized
education plan for your child.
- Participate in activities that help you
understand school technology.
- Help plan and attend family nights on
improving study habits, doing homework, etc.
- Help develop, visit, or offer services to
your school's study/tutor center.
- Participate in fairs and tests for math,
science, history, and so forth.
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- Respond to school surveys on your
interests, talents, and skills.
- Let school staff know your availability to
volunteer (days, times, and how often).
- Supervise and coordinate evening and
weekend volunteer activities at school.
- Assist your child's teacher in the
classroom or on field trips when you are able.
- Work with school staff and teachers to
develop volunteer activities you can do from home.
- Assist school staff and educators in
creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for parents.
- Help provide child care and/or
transportation for volunteering parents.
- Help develop creative ways to use
volunteers at school.
- Actively help school staff recruit parents
and community members as volunteers.
- Attend training and orientation on how to
be an effective volunteer.
- Learn and uphold school discipline,
confidentiality, and other policies as a volunteer.
- Plan a regular time each week to talk with
school staff and educators with whom you are working.
- Help develop volunteer job descriptions
and evaluations.
- Participate in organizing and planning
ways to recognize and appreciate volunteers.
- Respond to school surveys/questionnaires
on how effective volunteer programs are.
- Help develop and distribute a volunteer
directory to parents, school staff, and teachers.
- Provide volunteer consulting services to
school staff or educators on your areas of expertise.
- Learn of school and district policies and
practices that affect children.
- Voice your support or concerns on any
issue that will affect your family.
- Be involved in decisions on student
placement and course and 100 textbook selections.
- Participate in meetings to determine
special educational needs and services.
- Attend workshops on problem solving,
conflict resolution, public speaking, and so forth.
- Serve on school advisory councils or
committees on curriculum, discipline, and so forth.
- Serve on a site-based school management
team with teachers and the principal.
- Encourage and support older children in
serving in student leadership positions.
- Help your school create a student's rights
and responsibilities guide for families.
- Attend PTA, school board, and/or town
meetings and speak to issues of concern.
- Learn representatives'backgrounds and
participate in school board elections.
- Work with teachers and school
administrators to develop a parent involvement policy.
- Write, call, or travel to state capitals
to support or oppose proposed legislation.
- Participate in petition drives or
letter-writing campaigns to Congress on legislation.
- Give testimony at public hearings in
support of or opposition to education legislation.
- Vote in local, state, and federal
elections for public officials who support education.
- Help your school develop a directory of
social and community services.
- Find out information on community
resources and organizations and use them.
- Help develop and/or distribute a community
newsletter to local agencies and businesses.
- Help coordinate and participate in an
event to raise money for a local charity.
- Talk with employers about holding parent
meetings or parenting workshops on-site.
- Advocate for flexible work schedules and
leave time to attend school functions.
- Encourage employers and local businesses
to make donations and support school programs.
- Help organize and/or participate in
community health fairs.
- Help recruit community members (seniors,
business people) to volunteer at school.
- Become active in community groups such as
YMCA and Boy and Girl Scouts.
- Serve on local community advisory councils
and committees.
- Work with local authorities and public
officials to sponsor community events.
- Help organize and/or participate in a
community "clean up" or "beautification" project.
- Encourage and help facilitate your child's
participation in community service.
- Be a role model, be active in community
service yourself or together with your child.
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