Parent involvement has a direct correlation to how successful and enjoyable a child’s experience is with the school. Sometimes kids may come home with questions, concerns, or enthusiasm from class and for that to be acknowledged and worked through, is incredibly important! Without a push from the school to get the parents involved, it is easy for them to get tied down with their own work. Creating engaging content for them is just as important so the school can develop impactful relationships. Check out these 25 parent involvement activities.
1. Welcome In Different Languages
The first time parents come into the classroom they should feel welcome. Expressing welcome in different languages based on the backgrounds of the families is a great way to do this. You can do it to specifically suit your children’s backgrounds or other common languages around the world.
Learn More: Gadoe.org
2. Open House Tour
Open houses are the most popular events of the year for teachers. It is a great chance for the parents to come into the school and meet the person educating their children. They also get a chance to see the environment that their child will be in.
3. Parent Curriculum
Just like a child will have their curriculum for the year, teachers should hand out a parent version. This should align with what the kids are doing so they are involved in their children’s education.
4. Field Trips With Parents
At the beginning of the year set the field trip calendar with open slots next to each one. Have parents sign up for the field trip that they want to volunteer for. This is a great bonding activity for the kids and their parents and having rotating adults also helps kids build relationships with other parents.
5. Fair Night
In addition to an open house, host a charity fair night for the kids and their parents to attend. There should be games and different stations where they can do activities together. This can have an educational component to it or it can be strictly good fun and games.
6. Work Together Assignments
Sometimes sending home assignments that are both for the kids and the parents is a great idea. The parents can be involved in knowing what the kids are learning whilst helping them learn. This offers a different perspective from a teacher’s and is important for the kids.
7. Parent Progress Reports
Set goals for the kids and parents at the beginning of the year. Teachers can send home progress reports that allow the parents to ask questions and read comments on how they can continue to get more involved. This keeps things organized and doesn’t save all discussions for teacher meetings.
8. My Family Tree
A great activity for kids and parents to do together is to make a family tree. This helps the teacher understand a little more about the child’s background. It also helps the child understand their background. This is a great educational experience for parents and kids to bond.
Learn More: Gadoe.org
9. Extracurricular Volunteers
Sports and art need help when teachers cannot fill these positions. This is a great way for parents to get involved and help coach or direct certain music and arts programs. There is always plenty of space and opportunity for parents to get involved outside of academics!
10. Questions of the Month
Parents may have questions, but sometimes forget to email them in or reach out to teachers. Sending out an email to remind them to submit their questions monthly is a great way to stay in contact throughout the year and ensure everyone is on the same page.
11. Parent Show and Tell
Show and Tell has always been a favorite activity among the little ones, but having parents come in and do their own presentation is always interesting. Turn this into a bonding activity by having both parent and child present something together.
12. What’s Your Job?
Not every parent has to sign up for this one, but having parents volunteer to come in and talk about what they do is cool. The question of, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is always a big one!
13. Study Groups
Parents that have a little more time can be in charge of hosting study groups. Some kids may find a particular topic a little more challenging. Teachers can give parents resources and materials to host a study group where kids can sign up and get in extra hours.
14. Follow Up Report Cards
Leave a comment section for parents to sign off and ask questions about their kid’s report cards. It doesn’t matter whether it’s fantastic or needs improvement. Parents should be responsive to this and follow up with a meeting.
Learn More: Education World
15. Parent Webpage
Papers and folders sent home may get lost. A parent webpage is the easiest way for them to stay on top of their kid’s schedules and assignments. It’s also a great spot for resources. Leave a section with the teacher’s contact information.
Learn More: Education World
16. Reference List For Parents
When the parents get a curriculum at the beginning of the year, they should also get a reference list. These can be things that kids need for each activity, field trip, or event during the year. It helps parents stay on track for the year and keep their kids organized.
Learn More: Gadoe.org
17. Student Newsletter for Parents
Reading and writing are core skills learned in elementary. Have your kids create a student newsletter to keep their parents up to date with news and content being covered in class.
Learn More: Gadoe.org
18. Join The School Board
Parents should always have a say in how their children are taught and be involved in their environment. That’s why schools have PTAs or PTOs for parents to get involved in.
Learn More: Michigan.Gov
19. Board Meetings
If you can’t commit to being on the PTA/PTO, that is OK. It is their job to host open board meetings where parents can voice their ideas and concerns. That is why the board then becomes a representative of the collective group.
Learn More: Michigan.Gov
20. Homework Sticker Checks
Parents should get sent home with parent sticker sheets so that when they check homework assignments, they can give their kids a sticker. This doesn’t have to be for every assignment, but it lets the teacher know that they are checking in from time to time.
21. Single Parent Resources
Not every parent has someone to help them out. Teachers can ensure that a community still supports a child by providing clear resources for single parents. Single parents may have a harder time volunteering which is why this is important to talk about early on.
Learn More: Gadoe.org
22. Parents Make Friends Too
The buddy system is a great idea that’s been around forever. Making the parents find a buddy is a great way of holding them accountable. Life gets crazy and reaching out to another kid’s parent is an easy way to get questions answered quickly.
Learn More: Gadoe.org
23. Address Book For Open House
At the open house at the beginning of the year, there should be an address or contact book. Have parents fill out their emails, phone numbers, and addresses upon arriving so it is easy for the teacher to reach out if need be. Even if the school already does this, it’s great to confirm.
Learn More: Gadoe.org
24. Parent Luncheon
Not every day do you get to have lunch with your kids. Select a date for parents to go through the lunch lines with their kids. Have them bring a lunch or eat at school. This gives them an up-close view of your kid’s day-to-day.
25. Kids Go To Work
Instead of having the parent come in and talk about their job, let the kids pick one day out of the year when they get to go to work with a parent and come back with a report on what they learned.
Sight Words For 6th Graders: Categories (Dolch And Fry), Examples, And Activities