I am one of the fortunate teachers that has been allowed to explore both ends of the elementary education spectrum. I began my career as an eighth grade teacher and I am presently a kindergarten teacher. I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity. I now have seen the ‘whole picture’ and can identify with the people on the other end of the hallway. One differentiating aspect between primary and intermediate/middle education that I have found to be more worrisome than shocking is parent involvement.
As an eighth grade teacher, I can remember walking the halls on parent teacher conference days thinking how slowly the lower grade teachers must conference in order to have such a line waiting outside the door. The upper grade hall was usually pretty quiet and the teachers had many breaks to talk with coworkers. After moving to the lower end of the spectrum, I found out that it wasn’t the length of each conversation that held the line of parents waiting but the amount of parents that attended the conferences. I was pleasantly surprised to find that after the first couple of weeks as a first grade teacher (my position before kindergarten), I knew the face of at least one member from each student’s family. I had gone one complete school year without ever seeing the faces of some of the eighth grade students’ families. Eighth grade graduation was my typical introduction to parents. So why are parents more involved in their child’s younger years? I have several ideas.
First, I feel that schooling is new and exciting to both the parents and the child during the primary years. Children come home with stories and new learning to share with their parents. As the children grow older, fewer happenings in school are shared with the parents and parents seem to lose touch. During this period, when the child does not volunteer information, it is the parents’ job to ask questions and stay involved. However, with busy lives, many parents do not.
Next, I believe that many parents of middle school children are not involved simply because their child does not want them involved. It is no longer ‘cool’ to have your parent come and eat lunch with you or go on a field trip. This age child does not invite parents to classroom parties or events. Parents must find other ways to become involved. Try helping coach a team, decorating for a school dance, or working a fundraiser. Look for opportunities to be at the school but still allow your child distance.
Finally, I feel that schools often do not reach out to parents of this age group. As a primary school teacher, I write many more parent notes than I did as a middle school teacher. Newsletters go home every Friday. My class has folders specifically designed to take notes and work to and from school. I make sure that parents know what is happening in my class. This does not happen very often in middle grade classrooms. Most notes are handed out to students, who then toss them into the garbage can. Also, lower grade teachers are much more likely to need volunteers to help with school events, such as field trips. Teachers in lower grades, like students in lower grades, are more dependent on parents than in upper grade classes.
Intermediate and middle school teachers need to work to help keep parents aware of school events and classroom happenings. I believe that parent involvement is the responsibility of the parent and the school. Together we can make a child’s education a very positive and rewarding experience!
What Teachers Need Parents to do for School Success
Education A to Z: K for Keep Parents Involved
Older Children Need Parental Involvement In School