Parents are an important part of student education. The way I see it, they are one of the legs of a 3 legged stool in a child's education. One leg represents the child's own experiences that teach them lessons. The last leg represents their education in the school system. Each leg is crucial to a balanced education because if one leg is missing, the "stool of education" will lack strength and stability.
Students enter the school system with a sturdy, three-legged stool hoping to develop their education (mainly through the parents eyes at this point). However, what often happens is that the parents are ever so slowly broken away from classroom involvement. They join in on field trips and the odd fundraiser, yet they have no idea what happens inside the classroom on a daily basis. The only insight they have to the classroom is through the lens of their child, which I find rather unfortunate.
It is such a fantastic learning resource to have parents come into the classroom and be involved in daily activities, even sometimes sharing with the class their own knowledge and experiences! Be sure to take inventory of the skills your students' parents have so that you can utilize their expertise in areas where you have less knowledge.
Parents are a EXTRAORDINARY resource
-utilize them!-
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