How Parent Involvement Improves Schools

School districts all over the country are suffering from a lack of parent participation. Could you imagine a day when fifty percent more parents show up for a parent’s night?  Parent involvement can change an entire school system.  I challenge parents who are reading this article to use their social networks to encourage friends of your family to show up at Parent’s Night.  If more parents showed up it would let parents know what resources are needed and they could play a major role in helping schools to become better.  Gone are the days when a mother stayed at home to raise children and participate in school activities.  When a child’s parent is involved in their school it sends a message that they care. If a parent is working they can send a relative or a grandparent.  Something needs to be done to make parent involvement in K12 schools a high priority on their list of daily activities. Each parent should want to witness their student’s academic success. Their student’s achievements will draw them into the school and encourage them to participate.

What the educators are saying about parent involvement is true.  Parents who read to their children early develop children who enjoy reading.  Children are like sponges absorbing new knowledge at a tremendous rate.  Today parents are too concerned about keeping their children entertained.  Parents are great role models for their children’s love for learning.  If the majority of the parent’s time is spent in front of the television or laptop computer then it becomes their child’s main source of information and learning too.  In other words parents who demonstrate a joy of reading instill it in their children. A student’s enthusiasm for learning should begin in the home then spreads to a child’s in school instruction. Here are a few tips:

1. Parent Involvement – Make out a schedule of dates when you or a relative will show up for school meetings during the academic year. There are plenty or resources that are only announced during a parent’s night.  Also you are getting an opportunity to meet your student’s instructor to find out how they run their class.  You will also uncover ways that you can get involved with at least one activity for the year.

2. Encourage them to set goals for themselves – Children need to know that there is no limits to wait they can accomplish.  Encourage your child and stay involved in school activities.

3. Failure is success – Help your child to understand that there is a lot that they can learn from each failure.  Let them know that they will know to try something different the next time that they are pursuing a grade. The student may also need a tutor to help them to learn a particular subject.

4. Surround your child with positive role models – Get them involved in activities that promote leadership and determination.  An optimistic child can learn that they should never give up.

5.  Expose your child to the world -  Children need to know that there is more to the world than their immediate neighborhood.  There are a lot of positive things that they can learn from others.

6. Physical fitness and good health leads to optimism – A child who is physically healthy will have more energy and enthusiasm for life. A child who is eating write, physically fit and gets sufficient rest will be a very productive child.

7. Get a Tutor – If your student needs help with their academic achievement level talk to their teacher about tutoring. The teacher may provide it or have a tutoring recommendation.  If you ask you will find out that other parents are getting help for their children.

Some governors are saying we need more standardized tests to resolve the student achievement gap.  Testing is not the answer. Parent involvement is an alternative that costs fewer dollars to implement.  The resources that are allocated for testing could be spent to increase the number of parent leaders who are in the schools.  Some schools are finding ways to get parent’s involved in the daily activities of their schools.  Parents who are involved can learn about instruction methods that other parents can use in the home.  They are the catalyst to get parents who are not involved to volunteer for special projects.

Parents sometimes reflect on the bad experiences that they had when they were in K12 schools.  Student achievement can be raised when parents know that their active participation will make a difference in their child’s learning capacity.  Some parents are looking at their child’s achievement level to see if there are any differences.  They need to know more about the benefits of looking at the value of education from a different perspective.  Some parents do not know what a good education looks like.  School administrators and teachers must continually advocate for increased communication with parents.

Parents need more information about how K12 education is changing.  Most parents are not aware of the financial challenges that school systems are facing.  Many schools are underfunded when compared to school districts within their own states.  Parents can play a role in encouraging their local legislators to get involved in changing their states school funding formula.  Parents should invite the legislators to visit schools and to witness so that they can witness the challenges that they are facing.  It is easy to create a policy that eliminates school funding when you make assumptions that money is getting wasted.  Parents need to partner with schools in order to help with specific resources that their child’s school requires.

The United States is steadily slipping in terms of its edge in graduating students from high schools, trade schools, and colleges.  Starting a national campaign to help parents to understand their role in student achievement is a solution whose time has come.  New and innovative organizations are needed.  These organizations must take into account the changing trends in family structures.  Parents are looking for solutions to the achievement gap.  The solution lays in a combination of community and K12 schools working toward alternative education activities which are easily implemented in the home.

Some parents are raising the bar on their expectations for their student.  They are often interested in identifying resources that will prepare their child for college.  They participate in after school and weekend programs right along with their child.  They sign up because of their belief that their program will serve as a link between high school and post secondary education. Today is the day to get involved and make a difference in your local school. Parents are the key to a successful school and their child’s future career opportunities.

Dr Stephen Jones is and education advocate and an author of the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide. Get your copy http://www.DrStephenJones.net . You can join his newsletter at http://bit.ly/1sVyCzs .

Parent University a Key to School success

Do you have a Parent University at your School District? I have been a workshop presenter for the Parent University at the Redclay School District. Recently, I participated in a TV interview to promote it athttps://vimeo.com/142283440 . I've conducted a series of Parent University workshops and provided my three books to the parents who participate. My books are the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parents Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide at http://bit.ly/1wJHWaa I am passionate about helping parents with K12 students to help their children to earn A+ grades. You should start a Parent University at your school. Students perform better when parents are  finding ways to improve their knowledge while their child is in school. 

It’s important that parents get involved in the success of their child’s school. A student’s parent is the first educator they will ever know. Parent’s  get better results from helping their children to have good academic preparation as they transition from elementary school to middle school and from middle school to high school. No parent wants to see their child fail. Children have different learning styles and parents and teachers must work as a team.  A Parent University can help to bridge the gap in information that parents do not regularly receive. Do you want to feel confident that your child will earn better grades? Here are a few tips that you can learn at a Parent University seminar:

1. Set up a time for each child to study every day
2. Students who read over an hour each day earn better grades
3. Meet every teacher and ask questions. Work as a team to get your student the tutoring help that they need right away.
4. Know the grades your child is earning by following their progress and getting help right away.
5. Use 3 x 5 cards to review key words and definitions your child must know.
6. Make sure that your child gets good rest before every examination.
7. Get your child in the habit of studying for tests at least 4 days before the test
8. Get other books that explain your child's subject better

Make it your goal to be an involved parent. Do not rely on the school to give your child everything. Aim high and expect the best for your child. Your words have power. Have a positive mental expectation that your child will earn good grades.

Dr. Stephen Jones is an education advocate who helped thousands of K12 and college students. He is passionate about showing parents how to help their children to achieve academic excellence. He is the author of three books at  http://bit.ly/1wJHWaa . For more information to start your own Parent University comment with your information. Join my education newsletter at http://bit.ly/1sVyCzs for ongoing insights and parenting tips.

12 Tips Schools can Share with Parents of College Bound Students

For over 10 million students and parents, time to prepare for college becomes a reality they must confront sometime during their junior or senior year of high school.  The parent of a successful college bound student is well prepared for the decisions that lie ahead. Along the way parents have hundreds of questions that often go unanswered. Below are some quick tips that will make your college planning beneficial. Additional tips are available in a book I’ve written titled the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide at http://bit.ly/1wJHWaa.

1.         Finding scholarships is easier than you think.  Your student should start searching for scholarships during the 9^th grade.  Categorize your scholarships and begin to apply during the junior year.

2.         When it comes to a decision about living on campus know your child.  Most students benefit from staying on campus especially in classes that require team work.

3.         Spend special time communicating with your son/daughter throughout the senior year.  Don’t wait until you drop them off at their college dorm.

4.         If you know your son/daughter weaknesses find out about tutoring and ask them to sign up right away.

5.         When your son/daughter calls you regularly ask open-ended questions.  Use sentences like; what do you like about your math teacher?  Frequently asking open-ended questions will allow you the get a sense of their anxieties and stresses.

6.         During your students orientation write down the names of college administrators who have invited you to maintain contact with them during your student’s enrollment.

7.         Identify a relative or a friend in the city where your student will attend college.  Having a local contact is important in case there is an emergency.

8.         Don’t over pack when you consider how much your student needs in their college dorm room. Most dorm rooms are small and they can only hold a few larger items like a television, computer and small refrigerator.

9.         Sending your son/daughter to college with a computer is essential.

10.       Establish a check point conversation once every month during the senior year.  This conversation will help you to point your son/daughter in the right direction.

11.       Remind your student to avoid the urge to sign up for credit cards when they arrive on campus.  The credit cards offered on campus have very high interest rates.

12.       Open up a bank account for your student and ask for a debit card.  You can put money into the account when your student has a need.  Also, other relatives and friends can make deposits.

Schools should find creative ways to engage parents throughout their child’s high school experience. Don’t wait until the 12^th grade year to get started on your student’s college preparation. Go on college tours and talk to faculty and students on each campus. Dr. Stephen Jones is an education advocate, workshop presenter and author of the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide, the Seven Secrets of How to Study and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide at http://bit.ly/1wJHWaa. You can call 610-544-5480 or Learn@DrStephenJones.net Join the newsletter at http://bit.ly/1sVyCzs

Parent Involvement Key to School Success

Springfield, Pa. – The author of the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide says active parent involvement raises a student’s academic performance.  Yet school districts have witnessed a steady decline in parent participation.  Gone are the days when a mother stayed at home to raise children and participate in school activities.  Parents are happy when they are not called to the school regarding their son/daughters behavior.  Something needs to be done to make parent involvement in K12 schools a high priority on their list of daily activities.

Parents need more information about how K12 education is changing.  Most parents are not aware of the financial challenges that school systems are facing.  Many schools are underfunded when compared to school districts within their own states.  Parents can play a role in encouraging their local legislators to get involved in changing their states school funding formula.

What the educators are saying about parent involvement is true.  Parents who read to their children early develop children who enjoy reading.  Children are like sponges absorbing new knowledge at a tremendous rate.  Today parents are too concerned about keeping their children entertained.  Parents are great role models for their children’s love for learning.  If the majority of the parent’s time is spent in front of the television then it becomes their child’s main source of information and learning.  A student’s enthusiasm for learning should begin in the home then spreads to a child’s school instruction.

Some governors are saying we need more standardized tests to resolve the student achievement gap.  Parent involvement is an alternative that costs fewer dollars to implement.  The resources that are allocated for testing could be spent to increase the number of parent leaders who are in the schools.  Some schools are finding ways to get parent’s involved in the daily activities of their schools.  Parents who are involved can learn about instruction methods that other parents can use in the home.  They are the catalyst to get parents who are not involved to volunteer for special projects.

Parents sometimes reflect on the bad experiences that they had when they were in K12 schools.  Student achievement can be raised when parents know that their active participation will make a difference in their child’s learning capacity.  Some parent’s are looking at their child’s achievement level to see if there are any differences.  They need to know more about the benefits of looking at the value of education from a different perspective.  Some parents do not know what a good education looks like.  School administrators and teachers must continually advocate for increased communication with parents.

Some parents are raising the bar on their expectations for their student.  They are often interested in identifying resources that will prepare their child for college.  They participate in after school and weekend programs right along with their child.  They sign up because of their belief that their program will serve us a link between high school and college.

The United States is steadily slipping in terms of its edge in graduating students from high schools, trade schools, and colleges.  Starting a national campaign to help parents to understand their role in student achievement is a solution whose time has come.  New and innovative organizations are needed.  These organizations must take into account the changing trends in family structures.  Parents are looking for solutions to the achievement gap.  The solution lays in a combination of community and K12 schools working toward alternative education activities which are easily implemented in the home.

Dr. Stephen Jones is education consultant author of three books the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide, Seven Secrets of How to Study and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide available at http://www.studyskills2u.com or email stephenjoness@rcn.com.

Radical Ways Parents to Spark K12 Student's College Interest

The best way to prepare a student for college is starting at the beginning of their education.  Too many school systems wait until high school to start a college conversation. During the early years students are like sponges that are waiting to absorb knowledge. Students who inspired to read and compute math in a fun way while they are in elementary school thrive as they move from elementary school to middle school and from middle school to high school.  Parents should be included in the college conversation.  Schools can help parents to understand what they can be doing in their homes for example no television in the students room.  The parent can set a limited television viewing time during the week.  Instead parents should encourage their child to read and read with them.  The school that is preparing students for college must have a parent partnership.

Students not only need to memorize words at their K12 schools they need to have conversations where words are used at a higher volume. This is beneficial especially during the early years when students are learning math and science terms and words.  Teachers and parents should talk about college regularly to raise the student’s expectation that they can attend college. A teacher spends the majority of time with the students during the day.  Every teacher who is teaching at an elementary school, middle school and high school should have the banner of the college they attended outside of their room.  You will be amazed how many student conversations can result from having a banner outside of your door.  The students may not even be in the teacher’s class the banner is creating a college going culture.  The catalyst for a student to attend college is the teacher’s inspiration. It is the fact that everyone that comes in contact with them talks about college.  Tell your students that they are special and that you are expecting great things from them.  Here are a few tips:

1.  Measure and calculate everything so that your student develops good math skills

2. Read for an hour and a half every day

3.  Respond to questions that your students ask to help them to develop a vocabulary

4.  Take your student on cultural trips on the weekend

5.  Find reasons to be on a college campus for a play, sporting event or presentation

6. Plan a college visit every K12 year

7.  Get a college mentor for your student’s class

8.  Use the common application to apply to college

9. Teach you students to manage their time early. It has great benefits

10.  There are over 6000 colleges there is one for your student

Helping children to believe in themselves is half of the battle in terms of encouraging them to attend college.  They may be the first person I their family to attend college and they feel overwhelmed.  You should reassure them of what they can accomplish.  Teachers can talk about people who are living today who’ve graduated from college too.  A lot of students need to see living examples of college graduates.  You can invite them to your classroom to talk about their career experiences.  You can work with your students to create questions that they can ask to your speaker.  Sometimes that quite student who never makes a noise will have a question.  You never know the profession that I child will pursue.  The television and other media should not be the only way that students are able to identify a career. Every student has great potential.  Find creative ways to involve them in the learning process and they will have a thirst for knowledge and college. Dr Stephen Jones is a college preparation expert, author, consultant and educator.  He recently released the Ultimate College Preparation Kit at http://www.studyskills2u.weebly.com/books.html . You can reach him at stephenjoness@rcn.com or 610-842-3843.

Parent Tips: Back to School on a Shoe String Budget

According to Dr. Stephen Jones, parents can save thousands of dollars by mapping out a back to school shoe string budget.   Annually the cost of going back to school continues to rise.  Supplying one child for a k12 school or college can cost between $300 and $1000.  In fact one student recently said a book he purchased cost $200.  While this may not be the norm it is cause for alarm for parents who have several children. Parents must make difficult choices regarding the quality of materials their children will use to present term papers and projects that are due during the school year.  Often parents get so busy during the summer that they fail to plan a school supply budget and they end up running around from store to store trying to reduce the cost of book bags, calculators, text books, computers and etc. 

It is clear that the retail stores are doing their research and they know that parents will flood the stores around the third week of August.  Most parents would prefer to go to one store to get all of their supplies but they look in the papers and discover that the prices vary from store to store.  Dr. Jones says that parents can save hundreds of dollars by making wise purchases.  Here’s how parents can save hundreds of dollars:

1.         Don’t shop at the last minute right before school is about to start.

2.         Identify a discount school supply store so that you don’t end up shopping at the local corner store.

3.         Check the internet for sales at websites such as overstock.com.  Get together with friends and buy some things in bulk.

4.         Don’t be afraid to buy some clothing at a thrift store. You can save hundreds of dollars.

5.         Check your supplies from last year before you go out to buy new supplies.  You will reduce the chances that you are purchasing items that you have stored from last year.

6.         Ask your local school where they order their supplies from and contact the store for a catalogue or website.

7.         Consider purchasing certain items at the Dollar Store near you.

8.         Purchase books at discount websites that are on the internet

It’s amazing that some parents are willing to spend more money because they are unwilling to invest time to uncover savings.  The hundreds of dollars that are saved can help with the purchase of a new computer and printer. Don’t cave in to the temptation to putting your purchases on a credit card.  The credit card debts that parents obtain at the beginning of the school year can last until the next summer if a parent is not cautious.  Parents who are shopping on a shoe string budget recognize that credit cards are potholes that will take you thousands of dollars off track. 

Mobilize family and friends who can keep an eye out for special school supply sales.  Parents can use a number of methods to stay in touch.  First consider using the cell phone to create a list of people who will be looking out for certain supplies that you have identified.  Also, friends and family can contact you immediately when they discover a good sale.  Parents can give friends and family money in advance or ask them to pay for it and agree to pay them back.   Using e-mail can also be a good method to share websites that offer the products at prices that are not available at the stores.  The links to website can be put right within the text of the e-mail, which makes it easy fro a parent to make a purchase right away.

You can save thousands of dollars by shopping on shoe string budget.  Get started right away and you will not regret it.   Dr Stephen Jones is education consultant author of three books the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide available at http://www.sevenbooks.net

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