Date of Award
1-1-1991
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
June S. Delano
Keywords
Elementary Secondary Education, Middle School, Parent Participation, Communication, Telephone Communications Systems.
Abstract
This practicum was designed to improve communication among parents, teachers and students. A telephone answering machine allowed students and parents to access information about homework, classwork, and upcoming events during evening hours. Additional parent outreach efforts were made by the teacher, including introductory telephone calls to parents, drop-in conference time, and solicitation of parent classroom volunteers. The writer developed the system of recorded telephone messages for parents and students; surveyed parents and teacher, regarding existent parent-teacher communication; prepared forms to enhance parent-teacher communication; and surveyed students and parents to analyze the effectiveness of these interventions. Analysis of data shows that both parents and students found the telephone communication systems to be helpful. Students utilize the systems more often than parents. Students showed an increased frequency of homework completion as a result of this practicum, according to the teacher. Of 26 parents, 25 indicated that they were satisfied with the amount of parent teacher communication.