Tips for Getting Parents Involved

• Encourage parents to read with their children each night
  
• Request/require parent signatures on homework assignments
  
• Send home a fun parent/child assignment for them to do together
  
• Offer ideas for ways parents can reinforce concepts or skills at home or while doing daily tasks
  
• Ask for help in specific areas and at specific times such as reading with one child, stuffing Thursday folders, or putting up a bulletin board
  
• When you need help, send home a notice, email, or announcement in your newsletter
  
• Call parents when you have a specific need
  
• Use your parent volunteers
  
• Ask parents to send a list of their hobbies and talents. You may find a great guest speaker or demonstrator for a unit (ex: making tortillas during a unit on early Texas Mission life)
  
• When parents volunteer, send regular thank you notes
  
• When making the first phone call home, list activities, events, and tasks you need help to complete. Ask the parent if he/she could help with any one of the tasks listed. Make sure to write it down and note the phone number for follow-up.
  
• Send home a pledge for parents to complete and sign committing to at least one activity, event, etc. to do with the school or class during the year.