Parent Engagement Effects Student Drop Out

By Ann A. Brown

Since becoming a teacher my interest was always to endorse dedication to students, and parents. Having parents visit the classroom is very important to grow and maturity of their children. Parent engagement emphases a positive academic growth for students.
It also gives support that all students need to perform at the top level. Students from my observation, with parents involved, students were very well behaved and ready to listen.
Involved parents should be familiar with the Principal, teachers and school staff. This is a way to assist parents and students to communicate with everyone connected to the school system. Teachers much make parents feel welcome into the classroom. Working as a team will allow all students to excel in their achievements. This is the first proposal to develop positive engagement for all connected to the children. Having a proposal or a contract signed by all is a good tool to consider in finalizing your bond together.
Since I was a Counselor and Social Worker before teaching, this allows me to work with problems outside of the classroom. On many occasions I could make suggestions to different agencies that were available to assist parents or extended family members if the need was presented. Anything that will help your students with problems is important for the better classroom performance. Students and parents are the two most important aspects dealing with education that teachers can possibly possess. They are the foundation for teaching and learning.
You must have both in order to give all students the best education possible. One of the most extraordinary experiences in my lifetime was to become and educator and work with students, parents with commitment and dedication for academic achievement. Students deserve to have parent engagement especially in the high schools in order to keep them from dropping out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481760881

Ann A. Brown

An ultimate part of my education reflection began when I graduated from University of Buffalo and received my BS in social work. Pursuing this background gave me the capability to identify problems, set up a plan of action, and follow through to get results. This procedural and analytic approach to problems allows me to provide services for clients on a regular basis. During this time of supplying services for clients, I was promoted to a counselor also. Both areas worked well together. All these trainings, skills, and dynamics allowed me to actually work on any problematic situation. This education choice was very beneficial to me regardless of where I worked. Graduating from State University College at Buffalo with an MS in Student Personnel Administration was a definite start that directed me toward becoming an elementary teacher. Even though you are working with parents and their children, you actually solve problems and procedures similarly. It helps if you have a background in solving problems. Having Social Work knowledge gives you more opportunities to get parents engaged in the classroom.Other authors have mentioned, that parents should commit to their child’s education. Any teacher that promotes raising academic achievement for students is familiar with the concept of parent participation and the benefits. Displaying your positive dedication in assisting parents surely, will motivate parents to visit their child’s school.

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© 2013 by Ann A. Brown. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/18/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-6089-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-6088-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013910409

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Appendix Section

The Background of the Author

Chapter 1       Parent Involvement is Important for Student Achievement

Chapter 2       Parent Engagement can encourage a Child Not to be a School Dropout

Chapter 3       Parent Participation can Make a Positive Influence on their Child’s outcomes

Chapter 4       Many Students That Have Disabilities are Drop Outs

Chapter 5       Alternatives Schools and Mentoring Programs give Support to Students to Keep Them from Dropping out of School

Chapter 6       Over All Conclusions and Summary

Summary and Conclusions to Student Dropout

At Risk—Adolescents Enrolled in Youth-Based Mentoring Program

References

Preface

Parents play an enormous role in the education of students. Without their involvement students and teachers will have problems with academic success in the classroom. In my book I would like to explore serious consideration to different information from many studies on this topic. Hopeful I will be able to find crucial concepts to consider that will be valuable to assist in my conclusions of my book titled: Parent Engagement Effects Student Dropout.

In the reading materials that I decided to choose, will give me knowledge as to a particular direction, to follow and gain success to the problem by looking for descriptive answers. My teaching experience is in the area of Elementary Education. In the copy of my previous book: Techniques & Strategies to Increase Parent Involvement; the interest was finding ways to persuade parents to become involved in their child’s classroom. The findings were not connected to any particular grade level.

The information could be used for grades pre-k thru twelfth grades. Actually, when it comes to getting parents involved, there are really no special limitations. Parents should participate regardless of the grade levels. Students need help always, and the more parental involvement they give, the student will surely excel in achievement.

Having participation from parents in the school setting is essential and a great solution to secure graduation for all students. If the students are having any difficulties with academics, parents should be a part of a Drop-Out Prevention Programs offered by the school system. This may be one way to prevent the student from dropping out. Even though their child is signed up for this program, parents need to keep their involvement current at all times. Being a part of these kind of programs, will keep parents updated on their child’s progress. All parents are to be partners and work with the staff of these programs because they too need your help. The more engagement parents have in these drop out programs, will secure their child’s capability to succeed. Parents and Teachers must try every means to encouragement and support our students from dropping out.

Acknowledgments

My appreciation goes to many wonderful people that took time to give answers to questions about; the importance of parent engagement in the schools and student dropout. Fortunately, these volunteers gave me their precious time to contribute knowledge to help the educational system. Each person was asked a different set of questions on the same two subjects. All of the answers are located in the Appendix section.

Here is the list of volunteers that worked with me.

1.   Dr. Robert Whitehead; Educational Advocate

2.   Willie Brown MS in Education; University Professor

3.   Edward Brown; Educational Supporter

4.   Phyllis Brown; Educational Supporter

5.   Renita Kilby; MS in Business Administration; Educational Supporter

The cooperation of everyone involved has my appreciation and gratitude. Thank you so much for your assistance in this gracious sharing of your answers on these important subjects about education.

Appendix Section

All interviews information in detail

Listed here

Dr. Robert Whitehead—Education Advocate

1.   How important is a parent’s involvement in the high school setting?

   A parent’s involvement is extremely important in the high school setting. It is important because a parent or guardian is or should be a part of the educational process with the student or learner, as well as the school. It becomes a partnership that involves the learner, the parent, and the school in the educational productivity. Each entity has a role to play and must be actively engaged in the process. The learner must be willing to prepare study, attend class, and be an active participant in his or her class and school. The school should have instructors and staff who are committed to making each student successful. Then there is the parent’s role, the parent’s role is multifaceted. The first role or the involvement of the parent should consist of being an encourager or supporter in order that the learner would view education as positive and good. The parent’s role also consists of being an advocate for the learner. This includes, but is not limited to, going to the school for scheduled parent and teacher meetings and volunteering at their child’s school when the parent’s schedule permits.

2.   Should parents have an open invitation to come into the schools?

   Absolutely, parents should have an open invitation to come into the schools. This serves several purposes. First of all, it gives the parent a sense of transparency concerning the school, meaning that the school is open and is not hiding anything. Then it makes the school aware that it has the responsibility to make sure that the educational process is taking place and that those who are in the classrooms are learning. However, even though there is an open invitation, there needs to be a way to manage the process because without guidelines, it could be disruptive to the learning process. That would eventually be detrimental to the learners.

3.   What kind of encouragement could you give a person who wanted to drop out of high school?

   I would tell a person who wanted to drop out of school or was thinking about dropping out of school to re-consider or re-think about that particular option.

   I would remind them that they have great potential, but that potential cannot be fully developed if they do not have a high school diploma. Of society has changed and is changing. A person’s ability to achieve is put in jeopardy when a person does not have the proper training and preparation and having a high diploma is part of that preparation. Those who do not have a high school diploma will be limited in the types of jobs or careers to which they have access. I would recommend they work hard and complete high school because they can do it.

4.   What thing could you say to a student to motivate him or her to stay in school and not be a dropout?

   I would remind the student or learner that high school and the school system in general, even though it is not perfect, can work out for them if they are willing to put in the extra effort and take advantage of all the opportunities, including programs and tutoring. The student must be willing to fully engage him or herself and be determined to excel.

5.   What other options should high schools have other than alternative education programs?

   High schools must creatively use technology along with strategies or concepts that businesses use to help people reach their goals. I am aware that students cannot be given bonuses or incentives like they do in business. However, there must be some type of tangible reward that students or learners can earn, In addition, exciting ways of learning must take place which should include