Parent Involvement is key to any preschooler's experience. It sets up a pattern of care that helps kids know their parents want to see them succeed. I would love to hear what some of our Preschool Pros are doing to involve parents in their children's education. Involvement can be as simple as reading to a child every night. In some homes this happens anyway. IN my classroom I would send home "homework". It usually followed up on things we taught in class. For every sheet of "homework" I gave a parent a half an hour of parent involvement "credit". I used it as a way for parents to get parent involvement credit when they worked odd hours and couldn't volunteer in school. Some of my parents worked 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. These parents want to help their child but coming to volunteer after staying up all night was not going to help anybody.I have to admit I wasn't very consistent about it. Of course there are the traditional volunteer and involvement options but sometimes, especially in a private coop preschool parents need to give a little more of themselves. At my daughter's coop we cleaned the playground, volunteered to teach a lesson, or provided snacks. I offered my time to the preschool board and helped secure a much needed carpet for circle time. Of course you might think the rich and famous might just pay their way but as this article shows. Every parent wants their child to know they care. Jennifer Garner even cleaned the toilets in her her daughter's preschool. Have you ever had someone volunteer in a unique or effective way? How do you get working parents involved in their children's education?
I have one parent come in a month to read a favorite story to the class. Some parents get really creative and plan an activity to go along with the book. The kids LOVE when their parent reads to their class. They talk about it for days!
Kudos to all educators who recognize the importance of family involvement as keys to successful learning. As account manager of Kindermusik’s Early Literacy/Math Program for Preschoolers, and as a well-seasoned public school teacher, I am pleased that our curricula incorporates that vital component by including home materials that allow parents to experience “teachable moments” and can interact with their children and continue the learning at home.
An idea that was successful when I taught in the pre-k was “family night” which brought the community together.
Honey Filliben is Head Teacher of 3 classes of Pre-Kindergarten at Cumberland County Elementary School. She has chosen a special book with step-by-step guidelines and great pictures, called Teddy Bear’s Favorite Pictures, that she will get through a non-profit organization in central Heartland VA, Literacy For Tykes. Honey wants to get these books and a parent tip sheet “Enjoy Books With Children” to each parent as they pre-screen Spring 2010. The direction will be given for the parent to spend daily time reading the pictures with “Parent Point” prompts, to hopefully build up to 20 minutes a day. This will start a precedent for the parent and child to have regular together book time, that can continue throughout the years to come. Its a very enjoyable picture book with pictures by artist Delia Bowman-Wach. A copy of the book will be in each classroom all year, and there can be progress checks on reading time at parent meetings. Angela Dickens, Head Teacher of 6 Pre-Kindergartens at Prince Edward County (VA) Elementary School has also asked to have her pre-screening families receive these books in 2010.
These are both state-funded Pre-Ks but this project is seeking funding through Literacy for Tykes 501(c)(3) Public Charity, from the general public and corporations.