The Home School Link Between Home And School - 1436 Words

THE HOME SCHOOL CONNECTION In order to improve the education of disadvantaged children, the existing gaps between home and school need to be addressed. There is a great deal of research evidence showing that home/school connections are beneficial to educational goals. Sanders (2008) reports that home/school partnerships contribute to higher student achievement, improved student behavior and attendance, and more positive school climates. DePlanty, et al. (2007) describe the findings of various research studies regarding the positive impacts that occur when home and school environments are brought together. According to the evidence, these positive impacts occur as a result of parents providing support, encouragement, and reinforcement†¦show more content†¦Various reasons have been identified for why parents and other family members might fail to become adequately involved in the schooling of their children. For example, as reported by DePlanty, et al. (2007) studies have indicated that some parent s tend to become less involved when their children grow into adolescence. This is believed to be due to parents feeling that their involvement is less important with older children, as well as the feeling that adolescents need more independence than younger children. Other findings have suggested that parents will be less involved in their children’s schoolwork if they lack sufficient social networks. There have also been research indications that school involvement is related to the educational level of the parents (DePlanty, et al, 2007). In addition, Christenson Sheridan (2001) note that stereotypical attitudes among both parents and educators contribute to creating barriers between home and school. The problem is particularly acute among the families of disadvantaged children. Parents of poor families often feel that they have more pressing needs to attend to than the education of their children. As Berger (2008) says in this regard, â€Å"concern about finances makes it difficult to provide for housing and nutrition, let alone concentrate on emotional and educational needs of the family† (p. 5). In addition, low-income parents often must work at more than one job, or have preschool children to care for.