Parent Engagement
Marisela is one of my third grade students. She was born prematurely and is a native Spanish speaker who has a hard time retaining information and needs a great deal of teacher redirection to complete a task. Marisela becomes frustrated when a new concept is introduced and can refuse to participate without one on one teacher or bilingual aide support. Today, I am meeting with Marisela’s parents because they have asked, “What can we do at home to help Marisela succeed?” At the start of the meeting we need to make sure that we all introduce ourselves, as I have not meet Marisela’s father and we have a new interpreter for the school. In the meeting, there are three main points that we need to touch on that is most important…
“Parents must first understand and believe in the importance of English language skills. Children are adept at picking up on parental attitudes. If children realize the adults in their lives dont think learning English is important, they will be less likely to approach the subject with a positive attitude” (How Parents Help Their ESL Children Learn English, 2015). What we as parents say and do in normal life shapes our children’s attitudes toward school, learning, and their confidence in ability to learning. As parents we must model a positive value of education and how we use it in our daily lives. In addition, showing interest in our children’s education can spark enthusiasm and lead them to an understanding that learning can be enjoyable as well as rewarding, and well worth the…
Parents have many ways they can help with homework: direct method, keeping tabs, and provide good work space. The direct method is when parents teach numbers, letters, practice reading or help with a project. Keeping tabs or asking your student if they have any homework and making sure to set aside time for it to be completed, is another way parents can assist with homework. For these to be successful, communication between the teacher and the parents is key. Besides allowing for time for homework, parents must also provide a defined place to study that is quiet. “The best way that parents can help at home is to discuss with their child, in their own language, the work in progress” (More advice about teaching ESL students (FAQ),…