Answer :
Questionnaire Answers:
1. How many school-aged children do you have?
- I have 2 school-aged children.
2. What do you think about parent involvement at your child's school? In their classroom?
- Parent involvement at my child's school is adequate. In their classroom, I believe its beneficial for stronger parent-teacher relationships.
3. What has been your experience with parent involvement?
- My experience with parent involvement has been positive. For example, when I volunteered for reading sessions in my child's classroom, I noticed an improvement in my child's reading skills and confidence. The teacher appreciated the extra help and it allowed me to better understand the school's teaching methods and cirriculum.
4. Think about your child. Or select one of your children. Tell me, what do you feel you gained or learned from communicating with your child's teacher?
- From communicating with my child's teacher, I have learned about my child's strengths and weaknesses, as well as effective ways to support their learning at home. This has helped me better support my child's education by providing targeted assistance in areas where they struggle and encouraging their strengths, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of their academic progress.
5. Think of a situation in which you worked in a partnership or together with a teacher to resolve an issue or improve it. What happened?
- In one situation, my child was struggling with math assignment, I partnered with my child's teacher to address this issue. We resolved it by creating a structured homework routine and arranging extra help sessions. As a result, my child's math skills improved significantly and he gained more confidence in his abilities.
6. What parent resources are offered at your child's school? Such as monthly meetings, newsletter updates to keep you informed, parent workshops, etc.
- The parent resources offered at my child's school include monthly meetings, newspaper updates, parent workshops and parent-teacher conferences. These resources are very helpful.
7. Have you had a negative experience with a teacher? If so, what happened and how was the issue solved?
- Yes, I had a negative experience when my child was getting bullied. The issue was resolved by meeting with the teacher and involving the school administration. The outcome was a safer and more supportive environment for my child.
8. Have you had a positive experience with a teacher? If so, what happened?
- Yes, I had a positive experience when my child was struggling with reading. The teacher went above and beyond by providing extra reading materials and one-on-one support. This positively changed my child significantly improving their reading skills and boosting their confidence.
9. If you had a child in school before COVID, share how parent involvement has changed and has this change negatively affected your child's school success.
- Before COVID, parent involvement was frequent and included in-person meetings, classroom volunteering and school events. Since COVID, it has changed by becoming more virtual and less frequent. This change has negatively affected my child's academic success by reducing their direct interaction and engagement opportunities with teachers and peers.
Reflection:
In reflecting on the parent-teacher interview, I found the insights shared by the teacher to be valuable. The teacher emphasized the importance of consistent parent involvement and its direct correlation with student success, which aligns with the key concepts covered in this unit, particularly on page 45 where it discusses the benefits of parental engagement in educational outcomes. The teacher's experience with both positive and negative parent interactions highlighted the necessity of open communication and collaborative problem-solving, as detailed on page 62. One of the most impactful points was the shift in parent involvement pre and post COVID, illustrating how adaptable and resilient both teachers and parents have had to become, as referenced on page 78. Overall, the interview reinforced my understanding of the critical role parents play in their child's education and the effectiveness of the communication and partnership with teachers, which can significantly enhance the learning experience.
