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Page 1: 100 Ways to More - State of Michigan€¦ · 100 Ways to Know More. Do ... Help your school create a student’s rights and responsibilities guide for ... Provide encouragement and

100

Way

s to

Know

Mor

e.Do

Mor

e.

The

re a

re m

any

way

s to

be

invo

lved

wit

h yo

ur c

hild

’s ed

ucat

ion.

You’

re

prob

ably

doi

ng s

ome

ofth

ese

thin

gs

alre

ady.

May

be it

’s ca

lling

the

teac

her

to s

ay “

than

k yo

u”or

to

ask

a qu

es-

tion

,at

tend

ing

a pa

rent

or

scho

ol

boar

d m

eetin

g,or

col

labo

ratin

g w

ith

com

mun

ity

orga

niza

tion

s th

at s

up-

port

chi

ldre

n’s

lear

ning

.Yo

u’ll

soon

see

the

effe

cts

your

effo

rts

have

on

your

ch

ildre

n,th

eir

scho

ols,

and

your

self.

Tha

t’s b

ecau

se w

hen

pare

nts

get i

nvol

ved

in th

eir

child

ren’

s edu

ca-

tion

,eve

ryon

e be

nefit

s.

Partn

erin

g w

ith th

e Sc

hool

70

.Le

arn

ofsc

hool

and

dis

tric

t pol

icie

s an

d pr

acti

ces

that

af

fect

chi

ldre

n.71

.Vo

ice

your

sup

port

or

conc

erns

on

any

issu

e th

at w

ill

affe

ct y

our

fam

ily.

72.

Serv

e on

sch

ool t

ask

forc

es th

at e

xam

ine

such

thin

gs a

s sc

hool

dre

ss c

odes

or

bully

pre

vent

ion

polic

ies.

73.

Part

icip

ate

in m

eeti

ngs

to d

eter

min

e sp

ecia

l edu

cati

onal

ne

eds

and

serv

ices

.74

.A

tten

d w

orks

hops

on

prob

lem

sol

ving

,con

flict

re

solu

tion

,and

pub

lic s

peak

ing

to d

evel

op y

our

advo

cacy

skill

s.75

.Se

rve

on s

choo

l adv

isor

y co

unci

ls o

r co

mm

ittee

s on

cu

rric

ulum

,dis

cipl

ine,

and

so fo

rth.

76.

Bec

ome

part

ofa

sch

ool-

base

d m

anag

emen

t tea

m w

ith

teac

hers

and

the

prin

cipa

l.77

.E

ncou

rage

and

sup

port

chi

ldre

n to

ser

ve in

stu

dent

le

ader

ship

pos

itio

ns.

78.

Hel

p yo

ur s

choo

l cre

ate

a st

uden

t’s r

ight

s an

d re

spon

sibi

litie

s gu

ide

for

fam

ilies

.79

.A

tten

d PT

A,s

choo

l boa

rd,a

nd/o

r to

wn

mee

ting

s an

d sp

eak

to is

sues

ofc

once

rn.

80.

Lear

n ca

ndid

ates

’pos

itio

ns a

nd p

arti

cipa

te in

sch

ool

boar

d el

ecti

ons.

81.

Wor

k w

ith te

ache

rs a

nd s

choo

l adm

inis

trat

ors

to d

evel

op

a pa

rent

invo

lvem

ent p

olic

y.82

.W

rite

,cal

l,or

vis

it lo

cal o

r st

ate

deci

sion

mak

ers

to

supp

ort o

r op

pose

pro

pose

d ed

ucat

ion

legi

slat

ion.

83.

Part

icip

ate

in p

etit

ion

driv

es o

r le

tter

-wri

ting

cam

paig

ns

to C

ongr

ess

on le

gisl

atio

n af

fect

ing

publ

ic s

choo

ls a

nd

othe

r ch

ild-r

elat

ed is

sues

.84

.G

ive

test

imon

y at

pub

lic h

eari

ngs

in s

uppo

rt o

for

in

oppo

siti

on to

pro

pose

d ed

ucat

ion

legi

slat

ion.

85.

Vote

in lo

cal,

stat

e,an

d fe

dera

l ele

ctio

ns fo

r pu

blic

of

ficia

ls w

ho s

uppo

rt e

duca

tion

.

Colla

bora

ting

with

the

Com

mun

ity86

.Fi

nd o

ut a

bout

and

use

info

rmat

ion

on c

omm

unit

y re

sour

ces

and

orga

niza

tion

s.87

.H

elp

your

sch

ool d

evel

op a

dir

ecto

ry o

fsoc

ial a

nd

com

mun

ity

serv

ices

.88

.M

ake

loca

l age

ncie

s an

d bu

sine

sses

aw

are

ofw

hat’s

ha

ppen

ing

at y

our

scho

ol.

89.

Hel

p co

ordi

nate

and

par

tici

pate

in e

vent

s th

at s

uppo

rt

com

mun

ity

grou

ps.

90.

Talk

with

em

ploy

ers

abou

t hol

ding

par

ent m

eeti

ngs

or

pare

ntin

g w

orks

hops

on-

site

.

91.

Enc

oura

ge e

mpl

oyer

s to

ado

pt fl

exib

le w

ork

sche

dule

s an

d ti

me

offs

o th

at e

mpl

oyee

s m

ight

att

end

scho

ol

func

tion

s.92

.A

sk e

mpl

oyer

s an

d lo

cal b

usin

esse

s to

mak

e do

nati

ons

and

supp

ort s

choo

l pro

gram

s.93

.H

elp

orga

nize

and

/or

part

icip

ate

in c

omm

unit

y he

alth

fa

irs.

94.

Rec

ruit

com

mun

ity

mem

bers

(se

nior

s,bu

sine

ss p

eopl

e)

to v

olun

teer

at s

choo

l.95

.B

ecom

e ac

tive

in c

omm

unit

y gr

oups

suc

h as

YM

CA

an

d B

oy a

nd G

irl S

cout

s.96

.Se

rve

on lo

cal c

omm

unit

y ad

viso

ry c

ounc

ils a

nd

com

mitt

ees.

97.

Wor

k w

ith lo

cal a

utho

riti

es a

nd p

ublic

off

icia

ls to

sp

onso

r co

mm

unit

y ev

ents

.98

.H

elp

orga

nize

and

/or

part

icip

ate

in a

com

mun

ity

“cle

an

up”

or “

beau

tific

atio

n”pr

ojec

t.99

.E

ncou

rage

and

hel

p fa

cilit

ate

your

chi

ld’s

part

icip

atio

n in

com

mun

ity

serv

ice.

100.

Be

a ro

le m

odel

;be

acti

ve in

com

mun

ity

serv

ice

your

self

or to

geth

er w

ith y

our

child

.

The

100

Way

s ar

e ba

sed

on N

atio

nal P

TA’s

six

Nat

iona

l St

anda

rds

for

Pare

nt/F

amily

Inv

olve

men

t Pr

ogra

ms,

whi

ch h

ave

been

end

orse

d by

mor

e th

an 1

00 e

duca

tion

,hea

lth,a

nd p

aren

ting

orga

niza

tion

s.

03/0

4

(800

) 30

7-4P

TA

E-m

ail:

info

@pt

a.or

gw

ww.p

ta.o

rg

Page 2: 100 Ways to More - State of Michigan€¦ · 100 Ways to Know More. Do ... Help your school create a student’s rights and responsibilities guide for ... Provide encouragement and

24.H

elp create a school toy/book lending library and visit it regularly.

25.A

ssist in developing parent support programs/groups.

26.A

rrange to visit your child’s classroom or have lunch

with your child at the school.

27.Seek out classes or inform

ation on child development,

learning styles,discipline,etc.28.

Attend parent education fairs and other special events at

school.29.

Start a parent book club to discuss current publications.30.

Help create and/or contribute to a school new

sletter on parenting.

31.Prom

ote and volunteer for before- and after-school program

s.32.

Build an at-hom

e child I.D.file including item

s such as m

edical records,pictures,and fingerprints.33.

Make donations and/or offer to w

ork at clothing drives and food banks to benefit econom

ically-disadvantaged fam

ilies in the comm

unity.34.

Ask teachers or school counselors about how

to talk with

your children about tough topics.

Student Learning35.

Discuss your child’s school day and hom

ework daily.

36.K

now your child’s academ

ic strengths and weaknesses.

37.Provide a quiet,w

ell-lighted place with basic school

supplies for studying/homew

ork.38.

Help your children break dow

n big homew

ork projects into sm

aller,more m

anageable steps.39.

Develop a consistent daily routine and tim

e for studying and hom

ework.

40.Provide encouragem

ent and praise for your child’s efforts.41.

Share your interests,hobbies,and talents with your

children.42.

Provide children with books,m

agazines,newspapers,and

other materials,and encourage regular reading.

43.V

iew selected T

V program

s together and then discuss them

.44.

Make fam

ily trips to the library,zoo,museum

,or park a fun learning experience.

45.Talk w

ith your child’s teacher about creating home

learning games and activities.

46.A

ssist with hom

ework,but avoid doing it for your child.

47.A

ttend school meetings on learning expectations,

assessment,and grading procedures.

48.H

elp set goals and develop a personalized education plan for your child.

Comm

unicating1.

Give positive feedback and show

appreciation for teachersand the principal.

2.A

pproach interactions with school adm

inistration and staffw

ith a positive attitude and an open mind.

3.Listen to others’view

points when having a discussion.

4.Share your child’s strengths,talents,and interests w

ith teachers.

5.Share expectations and set goals for your child w

ith his or her teacher.

6.M

ake appointments as needed to discuss your child’s

progress or concerns.7.

Attend parent-teacher conferences w

ith specific questions you w

ant to ask.8.

Decide w

ith your child’s teacher the best way to stay in

touch (phone,e-mail,notes,etc.).

9.U

nderstand and reinforce school rules and expectations at hom

e.10.

Participate in informal opportunities to talk w

ith and get to know

school administration,teachers,and other

staff.11.

Address concerns or questions honestly,openly,and

early on.12.

Attend PTA

or parent meetings regularly.

13.R

ead classroom and/or school new

sletters.14.

Visit your school’s W

eb page.15.

Know

the names ofyour child’s teacher(s),school

principal,and school nurse.16.

Read and know

your school’s handbook.17.

Request that inform

ation be available in all languages spoken by school fam

ilies.18.

Share your family’s practices related to culture,values,

and parenting with your child’s school.

19.C

omm

unicate your perceptions ofhow parents are

treated and,when necessary,w

ork with school staffto

improve perceptions and school clim

ate.20.

Notify teachers ofany significant changes that have

taken place in a child’s life (such as death ofa pet,family

move,loss ofincom

e,family m

ember’s illness,divorce).

Parenting21.

Meet your child’s friends and get to know

their parents.22.

Take advantage offamily program

s and resources offered at the school.

23.W

ork with others to establish a parent resource center at

the school.

49.Participate in activities that help you understand school technology.

50.H

elp plan and attend family nights on im

proving study habits,doing hom

ework,etc.

51.H

elp develop,visit,or offer services to your school’s study/tutor center.

52.Participate in academ

ic fairs as a family.

Volunteering53.

Respond to school surveys on your interests,talents,and

skills.54.

Let school staffknow your availability to volunteer (days,

times,and how

often).55.

Coordinate and participate in evening and w

eekend volunteer activities at school.

56.A

ssist your child’s teacher in the classroom or on field

trips when you are able.

57.W

ork with school staffand teachers to develop volunteer

activities you can do from hom

e.58.

Assist school staffand educators in creating a w

arm and

welcom

ing atmosphere for parents.

59.H

elp provide child care and/or transportation for volunteering parents.

60.C

ollaborate to develop creative ways to use volunteers at

school.61.

Work w

ith others to develop volunteer job descriptions and evaluations.

62.A

ssist school staffin recruiting parents and comm

unity m

embers as volunteers.

63.A

ttend training and orientation on how to be an effective

volunteer.64.

Learn and uphold school discipline,confidentiality,and other policies as a volunteer.

65.Set a tim

e to talk regularly with school staffand educa-

tors w

ith whom

you are working.

66.Participate in organizing and planning w

ays to recognize and appreciate volunteers.

67.R

espond to school surveys/questionnaires on the effectiveness ofvolunteer program

s.68.

Help develop and distribute a volunteer directory to

parents,school staff,and teachers.69.

Volunteer your consulting services in your areas ofexpertise to school staffor educators.