Vidya Sundaram, co-founder and CEO of Family Engagement Lab, highlights the essential role of parental involvement in education. She discusses how engaged parents can enhance their children's learning by bridging classroom lessons with real-world applications. The conversation reveals the adverse effects of disengaged parenting, low expectations, and the importance of collaboration between parents and teachers. Vidya emphasizes that effective communication and partnerships significantly contribute to academic success, especially in the wake of the pandemic.
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Quick takeaways
Parental engagement enhances student motivation as parents express high expectations, bridging classroom learning with real-world applications.
Effective collaboration between parents and teachers is essential, yet often hindered by lack of training and perceived conflicts in interactions.
Deep dives
The Power of Parental Engagement
Parental engagement is critical for children's academic success and is supported by decades of research. Effective parental involvement includes maintaining high expectations for children and consistently communicating these expectations to both the child and their school. When parents express high hopes for their children, it fosters a sense of motivation and self-efficacy in students. Conversely, perceived lower expectations can damage a child’s engagement and belief in their own abilities, making it essential for parents to find a balance in their approach.
Collaboration Between Parents and Teachers
Successful education hinges on effective collaboration between parents and teachers, yet both parties often lack the necessary training to engage meaningfully. Many teachers have limited pre-service training focused on family engagement, leading to missed opportunities for productive partnerships that support students. Perceptions of conflict often arise during parent-teacher interactions, particularly when challenges present themselves, which can hinder constructive dialogue. Building relationships through positive interactions helps bridge gaps and allows for more productive discussions focused on a child's individual needs.
Connecting Learning to Real-World Experiences
Parents play a vital role in connecting academic concepts with real-life experiences, enhancing student motivation and engagement. By relating school lessons to everyday situations, parents help children recognize the real-world applications of what they learn. For example, discussing how math skills apply to recipes reinforces the importance of those academic skills in practical terms. Not only does this instill a sense of relevance in their education, but it also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of learning in students.
Vidya Sundaram, Co-founder and CEO of Family Engagement Lab, delves into unlocking the potential of parental engagement. Parents act as bridges, enabling students to apply classroom teachings to real-world scenarios and fostering an enthusiasm for learning. However, disengaged parents and low academic expectations can hinder student motivation and engagement. Today, Vidya discusses the transformative power of parental engagement. Show Notes