It’s Time to Rethink Parent Education

How does your school handle parent education? Do you offer it? Is it handouts of articles in backpacks? Are you like us and offer sessions after drop off when school starts? Or evening or after school sessions?

Each of these options carry with them their own challenges. Handouts get lost, crumpled up, shoved in backpacks and you never know if they get read. Emails can get lost in the deluge and it’s hard to get feedback as a one way communication medium. In person sessions, before, during, or after school are good for parents that have flexible schedules but not something every parent can attend. Ideally all parents would have the time to fit parent education into their schedule but most don’t. I believe all parents want to learn more and be the best parent they can be so how can we as a school help them achieve that? A successful parent-school partnership benefits everyone involved especially the student.

If we are going to provide a 21st century education for our students, then it’s time to rethink parent education. I propose that we try alternatives that better fit the busy lifestyle of modern parents. We offer our parents opportunities that work with their schedules rather than ours.

I love what Andy Plemmons says about parent ed here:

Lunch and Learn - Lunch Hour Webinars that offer a range of topics but allow for interaction between the educator and the parents and parent to parent.

Recorded Video Lessons – recorded sessions that may have been presented live to an audience on popular topics. These videos could be produced and include resources that parents can revisit again and again like discipline techniques, bedtime discussions, how to read with your child, etc.

Online courses – Perhaps there could be online courses in different topics that parents could earn certifications in or badges.

Has anyone out there tried these avenues? What’s the verdict?