Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Robert Pritchard
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
academic achievement, communication, elementary schools, home learning, literacy, parent education, parent involvement, parent school relationship, parenting, parental cooperation, parental involvement programs, schoolwork assistance, teacher education, teacher-parent collaboration, volunteers, workshops
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to provide parents with more knowledge and better resources in order to assist their children with schoolwork at home. At an elementary school, a lack of parental cooperation and support was impeding their children's achievement and behavior. Students who had low academic achievement usually had parents who were uneducated, non-English speakers, or who were too busy to attend school-related workshops. There were also difficulties in getting teachers acculturated to a parental involvement program.
The writer developed workshops and strategies aimed at helping parents educate their children as well as themselves. The workshops were also designed to assist teachers in developing an effective parent involvement program. Weekly parent involvement workshops were provided to parents and teachers in the following areas: (a) personal growth and literacy, (b) parenting, (c) communication (two-way), (d) parents as volunteers, (e) learning at home (with children), and (f) advocating parent involvement. Parents were encouraged to work on their skills levels (reading and mathematics) in order to assist their children at home, and teachers were encouraged to make parents a part of everyday education at the school.
An analysis of the data revealed that when parents had the educational resources and empowerment to assist their children with schoolwork, they did. The most successful activities were those that involved both teachers and parents in redefining the term parent involvement. Although it was an 8-month study, the teachers as well as the school felt motivated to use the program year-round.