School Administrator's Clip File • August 19, 2020
Get parents on the same page about schoolwork
Students benefit greatly when their parents can provide assignment support and guidance at home. To promote involvement:
- Distribute your school’s homework/assignment policy and post it on your online platforms. Encourage teachers to post grade- and subject-specific policies as well.
- Provide general information about the importance of study skills. Offer parents strategies on helping students with organization, time management, responsibility, test preparation, listening, note-taking, persistence and more.
- Survey parents. Moderate a social media discussion. Ask parents to share situations that are challenging for them. Encourage parents to offer tips and strategies that work well for them and their children. Parent-to-parent tips can be very effective.
Try a virtual approach to parent workshops
Most schools provide parenting information through workshops, meetings or classes. But with today’s health concerns and need for social distancing, holding gatherings at your school building may not be possible. Consider sharing information with parents in new ways, such as:
- An audio recording that parents can listen to at home or as they commute to and from work.
- A video that parents can watch on a smartphone, tablet or computer.
- A collection of articles that parents can download from your school’s website or social media site.
Did you know?
A new study showed that 10 to 14-year-olds who promised to be truthful were less likely to cheat than those who did not—even when they could not be found out. The researchers note that promises could be a powerful way of encouraging honest behavior in an academic context.
–Source: P. Kanngiesser and others, “Keeping them honest: Promises reduce cheating in adolescents,” Journal of Behavioral Decision Making.