Middle Level Family Involvement

In our studies of best middle level practices, we found that a commonly overseen component of student success is family involvement. It is essential to help support students at this stage of development through communication with parents, parent volunteering, and parent involvement in the decision making process.

Communication with families strongly correlates with student success. This is visible through regular parent-teacher conferences, student work and progress being sent home to parents, notices on policies and changes, school newsletters, and more. This communication is essential in order for students to be aware of their own progress and success, as well as keeping students and parents informed about policies and course offerings. Parents are able to monitor their students’ success, understand school policies, and to address any students’ issues with the teachers through this open communication. In order for this to happen, teachers must work diligently to ensure effective communicate with parents to relay any pertinent information.

The volunteering aspect is an important way to show families that they are able to become involved in their student’s school experience. This can be shown through joining a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), helping in the classroom, and attending and/or organizing events to help support the school. Through this, parents are able to be around their child’s teachers more often and understand teachers’ job responsibilities and know that they are welcome in the school building. Students will have opportunities to practice the skill of effective communication with adults as parent involvement becomes more integrated. Teachers will also be able to rely on parents to help support them in what they do. Overall, parents involvement in the school, in whatever they are able to help, will aid in creating a positive environment for all involved.

Involving families in the decision making process is a significant way for parents to become  involved in regulating the regional education policies that directly affect their children. Students are able to see that they not only have rights, but their rights are supported by the adults in their community. Families are able to be aware of policies and decisions that are made in school districts and give their input to help improve policies surrounding their child’s education. Teachers are able to understand parents’ perspectives on their child’s learning, which in turn, allows teachers to better adjust their teaching styles and classroom practices to meet the needs of the students.

In my experience, students have a hard time separating school from home when there are significant issues in their life at home. Students do not behave or perform at their best when they are facing instability in their homes, so an effective method of communication with parents is key to understanding how to best support the needs of students at any given time. Often teacher to parent conversations also help to solidify the importance of education in the student’s lives. The more parents are involved in their child’s education, the more they will see it necessary to support the student’s academic needs at home, thus providing students with opportunities to focus on academics at home as well as in school.