More than 200 adults returned to the classroom during Steadham Elementary School’s second-annual Bring Your Parent to School Day Jan. 16. They learned alongside students, experiencing 21st-century education firsthand.
“The kids were very excited about having mom or dad show up. They worked really hard all day,” said teacher Jennifer Schneider. “We took a spelling test and reviewed writing portfolios. I wanted the parents to experience what really happens in a fourth-grade classroom. By inviting them in, they get a sense of how their children work. They also get to see how instruction has evolved from a one-way communication model to the dynamic, student-driven model we use now.”
Fellow fourth-grade teacher Kimberly Charles had the rare opportunity to observe the event as both an educator and parent. She believes the well-attended affair is valuable for even the most involved mothers and fathers.
“Bring Your Parent to School Day gives the kids an experience they will never forget,” Charles commented. “This lets students know their parents care, that they want them to learn. It also gives them a sense of stability by showing that parents and teachers are on one accord.”
Developing a strong parent-school bond is the exact reason Principal Lakisha Culpepper initiated the one-day visit.
“When we look at research that examines what engages students and increases academic achievement, parent involvement is high on the list,” Culpepper explained. “By parents being present and able to hear how strategies are taught, they can in turn help students at home. For some of our students, this is the first time their parents have even come to school.”
Although this is just the second year Steadham has featured Bring Your Parent to School Day, the benefits of the enlightening event have already materialized.
“What I saw data-wise from last year was that my parent complaints went down,” she stated. “We were able to make connections between them and teachers. I also had parents who became more anxious to visit and volunteer. Again, this just gives them the opportunity to reflect and think, ‘Yeah, I am supposed to be a part of this process.’”