Family Involvement Makes a Difference!PROGRAMS FOR PARENTSA number of exciting programs are helping parents and schools throughout Indiana to form new partnerships. Each of the different programs described has a common goal--helping families to help their children learn.
"The program definitely makes math and science fun, but my favorite thing about the program is the way that families end up working together--discovering, problem-solving, and having a good time." Focus: Elementary and middle school families. Purpose: Family Math and Family Science are innovative national programs designed to increase the study of math and science by students in kindergarten through eighth grade-especially among young women and ethnic and racial minority students. Children and parents learn and have fun together through a variety of imaginative (and nonthreatening) hands-on learning activities. Program: The classes are usually offered in a series of four to six sessions on evenings or weekends at convenient locations such as a school, library or community center. The classes use easy-to-find and inexpensive materials from around the home. Two 10-hour workshops (one for Family Math and one for Family Science) have been designed to provide parents, educators, and others with the program philosophy, activities, curriculum materials and organizational ideas needed to be able to conduct these programs in local communities. These workshops are offered at The Children's Museum in Indianapolis. In some cases, workshops may also be arranged for local training. For more information, contact: The Indianapolis Children's Museum, 317-924-5431 or Ralph Taylor at the Indiana Youth Institute, 3901 N. Meridian St., Suite 200, Indianapolis 46208 · 317-920-2700 or 800-343-7060.
"This program was wonderful! I liked getting to know more people, finding out about the community resources available to us, and learning to better understand kids and how to treat them." Focus: Parents of first through fourth grade children. Purpose: Links to Learning is an educational support program for parents concerned about their children's futures. Today's rapidly changing world requires a range of problem-solving skills that can be fostered in important ways within the family and community as well as at school. The early elementary school years are a key time for parents to help their children establish successful learning pathways. Program: The Links to Learning program offers guided group discussions among parents on practical topics such as how daily family routines can strengthen children's learning experiences, how parent-child conversations contribute to children's problem-solving abilities, and ways to form partnerships with schools. The program involves 10 sessions led by a team of two facilitators, at least one of whom is a parent. Three printed resources have been developed to support program implementation: a detailed printed guide for facilitators, a discussion guide for the parent group meetings, and a sourcebook of tips for organizing and facilitating the parent groups. Links to Learning has been developed by Purdue University using the latest research findings and the ideas of a variety of Indiana families. A rigorous evaluation of the program will be completed in 1996, and the program will be available for widespread dissemination beginning in summer of 1996. The program's development has been supported by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. For more information, contact: Links to Learning, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907-1267 · 1-800-726-4903.
"I started doing this because I wanted my kids to have more than me . . . I continue because I want more for myself." Focus: Middle and high school parents of Twenty-first Century Scholars. Purpose: The Parents' Project equips parents of Twenty-first Century Scholars with the tools to become enlightened, educational leaders in their homes. (Indiana students can join Twenty-first Century Scholars starting in the eight grade if they are eligible for free or reduced lunch.) Program: Currently, there are 12 project sites housed in community-based organizations around the state; any parent of a Scholar is welcome to participate. Parent support groups meet monthly to address educational, parental and other concerns such as health, housing, financial and employment. Led and planned by parents, the groups may sponsor speakers, coordinate college tours and financial aid workshops, attend cultural outings or parent retreats, hold rap sessions. Most important, parents lend encouragement and support to one another, offering firsthand advice on parenting young people in today's world. Parents also receive the resources and the knowledge that will allow them to successfully continue their own education and to strengthen their job skills. For more information, contact: Twenty-first Century Scholars, ISTA Center, 150 W. Market, Suite 500, Indianapolis 46204 · 317-233-2100.
"[Teleparent] allows me to double check information already sent home, report absences without waiting on a busy signal, and relay concerns to a teacher at any time." Focus: Elementary, middle and high school parents. Purpose: Teleparent encourages greater home/school communication through a computerized voice messaging system. Program: Parents call one phone number which then guides them to their children's individual school and classroom teacher's mail box. Teachers can record daily activities, homework assignments, reminders, or other information they would like to share with the families of their students. Parents can leave messages for teachers concerning their children. Participating schools must have full teacher support and usage of the system is monitored to ensure use. Currently parents in Marion County have free access to Teleparent through the cooperation of Parent Power, Ameritech, and WRTV6, along with corporate and foundation sponsorship. For more information, contact: Sue Richardson, Parent Power, 645 W. Carmel Drive, Carmel IN 46032 · 317-573-8222. "When parents are involved in their children's education at home, their children do better in school. When parents are involved at school, their children go farther in school, and the schools they go to are better." --The Family is Critical to Student Achievement by Anne Henderson and Nancy Berla 1995. This information sheet was developed by The Family Connection for Family, School & Community Partnerships, Marion College, 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis IN 46222. It may be copied in part or in whole to further advance the involvement of parents in their children's education, providing credit is given to The Family Connection of St. Joseph County, Inc., and to the Family, School & Community Partnerships, Marion College, as sponsor. |
FAMILY MATH & FAMILY SCIENCE