Family Involvement
Stategies to Increase Family Involvement
- Start out strong. Involve parents in the decision-making process from the beginning of the year.
- Allow parents to take leadership roles and help plan activities. Know your community and be respectful to all families regardless of socioeconomic class, education, race, or culture.
- Provide opportunities for parents to visit your school and provide feedback.
- Provide translators for parents who speak other languages.
- Invite parents or family members to read in their own language. Produce written materials in the languages represented in your school(s) or area.
- Use videotapes, cassette tapes, and/or home visits to reach parents who may experience challenges with literacy.
- Have activities or meeting at times that likely to be convenient for family members (i.e. evenings or Saturdays).
- Advertise family involvement events; include that it is a free event.
- Offer refreshments/healthy snacks or a light meal during meetings. Provide transportation assistance if needed.
- Invite the extended family to participate.
- Provide a place for young children to go to while parents are involved in adult education programs, such as homework help or activities versus just daycare.
- Collaborate with other organizations.
- Keep the lines of communication open. For example, have one person serve as a contact for parents who can listen to the needs and feedback from the families that you serve.
- Solicit donations from your community for materials to be given to the entire family.
- Offer incentives and reward family involvement.
- Develop a team and a plan that is focused at promoting family involvement.
Adapted from Greenlee G., Laws, H.P., Edwards, P., & Goldman, E. (1998, winter) and Family literacy: Tapping into the Power of the Family.
