Contributing to School Life

Big Ideas and Questions

This section includes the key ideas that underpin the topic in the module. It also includes questions that support an inquiry stance about teacher-parent relationships; encourages independent and collaborative reflection; and provides a springboard for independent or collaborative professional reflection about the module’s focus.

Big Idea Bulb

Big Ideas

  • Parent involvement and engagement can evolve over time.
  • Parent involvement in school councils and other formal structures works best when it is authentic and when parents can see their voice has an impact on school decision-making.
  • Parents and guardians can and should play an important role in supporting their children at home and in volunteering at school as students age.
  • Parents have human capital and are valuable human resources which can be enlisted to support classroom teachers with various school activities and functions.

Bid Idea Question Mark

Questions

  • How can we foster and support parent engagement in their children’s school life and learning?
  • How do we ensure that parent involvement in the school council and other formal structures is meaningful?
  • How do we encourage and maintain high levels of parent engagement and volunteerism as students progress though the school years?
  • How do we enlist parents and guardians to support school events, activities and functions that build their capacity over time to become even more effective partners in the school?