Parent Involvement

Parental involvement improves learning (U.S. Department of Education, 1997). Families who work with their children at home to reinforce skills taught in school greatly increase their child's success. Consequently, research indicates a student's academic achievement relates more to parental/family involvement than environmental or economic factors. In essence, schools need to form a partnership with families to create the optimum leaning opportunity for each and every child. Books and Beyond offers a variety of opportunities in which parents can participate.

In School

Even parents with limited hours, who lack transportation, or have limited literacy skills can participate in Books and Beyond by helping set up the program, stringing gold medals, planning ceremonies, or sending out invitations. Record keepers, community tutors, and those with artistic skills who would enjoy creating the bulletin board can volunteer without committing to extended periods of time. Bulletin board markers need to be cut out and student and staff names added. The record keeping committee needs to set up manila folders for each participating classroom (see Record Keeping section of the Program Manual). Parents may organize special events such as the kickoff or gold medal ceremony, and/or a visiting author's reception. They may also solicit support from local businesses. Whether a parent has many hours or just a few, volunteering to help with the read-a-thon sends a message to the students that participation in the program matters.

At Home

Parents need to know that reading aloud to children produces the greatest rewards in terms of helping children learn to read on their own. According to the America Reads Challenge research, reading aloud is also the greatest predicator of academic success in reading. Even older students enjoy having their parents read and share books with them. Parents who read to their children during the read-a-thon should make a show of turning in their own record sheets.

Parents can support recreational reading and writing at home by providing a literary environment: clean paper, plenty of pencils, a comfortable place with a good light in which to read, and books, magazines, and newspapers within easy reach. Parents should also limit television hours and provide quiet time for reading activities. Other activities that support recreational reading and writing include:

• Visiting the public library.
• Establishing a family reading hour.
• Writing a family journal.
• Creating a television schedule and turning off the television during designated hours.
• Reducing television viewing times.
• Giving books as gifts.
• Talking about a favorite book at dinner.
• Pointing out places where reading and writing are used in daily life.
• Discussing current events to encourage newspaper reading.
• Encouraging participation in the read-a-thon.
• Reading recreationally themselves.
• Using A Compact for Reading and School-Home Links