Great teachers go above and beyond for their students. Students benefit from those efforts in the classroom, but many adults also can name one, two or even more educators whose lessons and enthusiasm for learning has benefitted them long after the final bell rang on their academic careers.
The efforts of teachers who go the extra mile for their students are worthy of recognition and appreciation. Families who want to express their gratitude to teachers can do so in any number of ways.
· Write a note. A personal note from a student or parents or both can warm the hearts of teachers. Personal letters may not be as common as they once were, but they remain a thoughtful way to express gratitude and appreciation to people who have had a positive impact on a person’s life. That makes a personal, handwritten note an ideal and meaningful way for families to show their appreciation for a teacher.
· Pitch in at school when the opportunity presents itself. Teachers seek a helping hand at various points in a given school year. A teacher might ask for volunteers to assist with holiday parties or special school events or even request help coming up with extra school supplies or items needed for a particular project. In fact, a recent survey from the Association of American Educators found that public school teachers spend an average of $673 per year of their own money on school supplies. Parents can express their appreciation for teachers by responding with enthusiasm to requests for supplies, When responding, parents can ask teachers if there’s anything else they can do to help and offer to volunteer their services during class parties.
· Organize a class gift. A gift from the class around the holiday season and/or at the end of the year can let teachers know their efforts have not gone unnoticed. By pooling their resources, parents can give teachers an especially nice gift. A night out at a local restaurant or tickets to a show can make for a well-deserved excursion for educators who often work long past the school day to help students learn.
· Contact higher-ups at the school. An email or phone with a school principal or another higher-up in the local school system is another way for parents to ensure the efforts of a teacher are recognized. Let the higher-ups know when a teacher has made a positive impact on a child and how much their efforts are appreciated.
Many teachers go to great lengths to support their students. Families can recognize those efforts in a host of meaningful ways that will let educators know how much they’re appreciated. BS244854
Parental involvement is a key
factor in students’ performance
Success in school can carry over to successful experiences later in life. That underscores the benefits of developing skills in the classroom. Students learn in their own way, and at times there may need to overcome various obstacles.
The job of education does not fully fall on educators and administrators. Education begins at home. Research has found that kids benefit significantly when parents and other caregivers are strongly involved in a child’s education. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community found that parental involvement in a child’s education is associated with improved academic performance. Specifically, children whose parents are more involved in their educations have higher levels of academic performance than children whose parents were not as involved.
A 2005 study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Center of School, Family and Community Partnerships showed that school practices that encourage families to support their students’ math learning at home led to higher percentages of students scoring at or above proficiency on standardized math tests. Additional research indicates the benefits also extend to other subjects and areas of learning, including language comprehension and expressive language skills.
With so much to gain from parental involvement in students’ educations, parents can embrace these strategies to get more involved.
· Develop a partnership with the teacher. Open communication with the teacher(s) can help parents stay up-to-date on what is going on in the classroom and learn early on where a student may need extra support. Then parents can offer extra guidance if it is feasible, or look into an experienced tutor.
· Be firm but supportive. Too much academic pressure may cause a child to pull back or even test boundaries, and that can lead to students falling behind in school. Parents must find the right level of involvement and guide their kids without sounding like good grades are “make or break” the relationship.
· Attend school functions. Parents can go to open houses, back-to-school nights, conferences, and other events held at school to show support and interest in their children’s education. Involved parents also build school-based networks this way, which can be called upon if their student needs additional support in the future.
· Establish a schedule at home. Students can benefit from a schedule, with regular bedtime, homework time and opportunities to relax. Knowing what to expect and when to expect it can take some of the stress out of learning and studying, according to Nemours health.
Parents working in concert with schools and their children can lead to better academic outcomes. BS244853
