:: Families as Partners
By encouraging and supporting children, families show that they place a high priority on their children's learning, social behaviour, participation and progress at school. Families can support children by:
- attending special events
- reading together
- knowing school rules, program expectations, discipline policies, and grading practices
- reading newsletters and teacher's notes
- participating in parent-student-teacher conferences
- talking with your child about school, interests, and friends
- encouraging, supporting, and modeling positive attitudes about education
- volunteering - countless local, provincial, national, and global organizations were built on the strength of volunteer efforts. Imagine what volunteers can do for your child's school! There are so many ways you can make a difference.
For more information on specific ways you can be involved in your child's school, contact your school directly.
Resources for Families
From Communications Now published by the Alberta School Boards Association... articles of interest to parents on a wide variety of topics can be viewed here
Edmonton Public Schools and ACCESS Television collaborated to produce a DVD (in English and Somali) that explains basic facts about the education system and Edmonton Public Schools.
Accompanying print resources were developed to complement the DVD. We appreciate the partnership with ACCESS that allowed for the production of this DVD and hope that viewers will find it useful.
View the videos on YouTube
Helping Your Child Achieve
Help your child get off on the right foot:
- Children who get plenty of sleep are more ready to learn. Ten to 12 hours is recommended for four to six-year-olds.
- Habits of good nutrition begin in the early years. A well-balanced diet, which includes breakfast, is important to learning.
- Children need to learn to dress appropriately for different kinds of weather.
- Help your child to look forward to school: Get to know your child's friends.
- Talk with your child about school activities and routines. Become familiar with school rules and discuss them with your child. Your attitude and actions will help determine how your child feels about school.
Know your child's school. Become familiar with:
- the names of teachers who will be working with your child
- the school procedures regarding care of outer clothing, field trips, fees and supplies
- the school calendar - identify holidays and special events
- the school timetable - starting and dismissal times
- the school's emergency procedures
Interact with your child's teacher:
- volunteer to support your child's school program
- share information about your child's strengths and weaknesses
- inform your child's teacher when there are things happening in your child's life that may interfere with learning
Encourage your child's language learning:
- Encourage your child and be a good example of speaking and listening.
- Talk about family events and take your child to visit interesting places.
- Read stories to your child regularly when they are young.
- Show that you enjoy reading your own books, magazines, newspapers.
- Help your child to understand that their own writing is important: letters, cards, lists.
Courses for Success
Metro Continuing Education http://www.metrocontinuingeducation.ca/
Consider parenting courses for yourself or enrichment courses for your children through Continuing Education Services to encourage achievement.
For more information on Family Involvement contact:
Jean Jenkins
780.429.8039
Jean.Jenkins@epsb.ca
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