Article Link: http://www.exchangepress.com/article/parent-involvement-at-its-best/5022223/
Parents Teaching Parents
Have you ever thought of parents teaching parents? When you think about the families at your school, do they have specific skills and interests? In the past our school held a Parents Teaching Parents class on Friday mornings. When I stopped by our Family Room one day, I saw a parent teaching another parent how to sew and thought to myself, "Why don't we let parents use their talents and teach each other?"
Our two Bilingual Liaisons set up a time on Friday mornings and communicated with all parents about the opportunity for parents to teach and learn from each other. A few of the topics were:
• making birthday and wedding invitations by hand.
• using recycled newspaper to make window shades.
• sewing.
• cooking.
You should have seen the interest that grew and the parents making new items for themselves as parent 'teachers' taught their classes! Talk about ownership and feeling proud of themselves. This is one type of program that will boost your parent involvement and make the whole family feel welcome at your school.
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