Does it matter if parents are involved? Teachers think so, and it's better for students
Claremore High School is more than just an institution of education; it is a hub that benefits everyone in our community. It is a place where parents are welcomed with open arms to work with teachers and participate directly in their child’s academic and interpersonal growth. It is where I attended high school myself, where I have taught for many years, and where I chose to send my children. Even after moving away briefly to live in Wyoming and Texas, I came back knowing that Claremore was a safe place to raise a family and call my home.
It takes a village to raise a child, and we are blessed to have such a high rate of parental involvement in our school because we know that it benefits our students and makes our jobs as educators more effective. My primary duty is to teach the Oklahoma academic standards in English language, creative writing and literature. I take this responsibility very seriously. Not every student of mine will attend college, but they will all need to master valuable skills in communication and language no matter where their life takes them. Furthermore, I want every student to take something away from my class and have a reason to look forward to school.
This year, the end of the spring semester came quickly at Claremore High School. As students finished their exams and eagerly awaited summer, parents and community members were busy working with school faculty to prepare for our 2023 Grad Bash. This annual celebration of our graduating class gives students a safe and supervised place to gather after their convocation ceremony. Not only does this help keep kids out of trouble, but it allows all of our families the opportunity to honor the accomplishments of our graduates. We want all students to feel supported by a whole community of people, not just their individual teachers or just their parents. Our 2023 Grad Bash was funded and organized by our parents and families who provided free food, prizes, supervision and fun to all attendees. Each graduate even walked away with a small gift. Our Grad Bash events show our kids how much the community cares about them and demonstrate the positive partnership our school has fostered with parents.
At the beginning of each class period, I give my students a few moments to free-write and express themselves. I have taught in Claremore for 18 years, and I have witnessed this practice help students self-regulate and prepare their minds to learn. Their writings are not graded for content or grammar, but this time gives students space to reflect, which helps them focus in class. No matter what is going on in a child’s life, I want them to feel comfortable and ready to learn when they are in my care. This is no easy task, but it is one I cherish and value dearly.
There is a lot of competing information in the world right now about the role of educators and parents in a child’s education, so I wanted to take an opportunity to share these stories from my corner of the state. I work very closely with my colleagues in Claremore and across the state as a member of my professional organization, but I have yet to meet a school employee who did not highly value parental involvement in schools. The more we can all work together in harmony, the better off our students — our next generation — will be.
Jill Andrews is finishing her 25th year as a secondary English Language Arts teacher. She currently teaches British Literature, AP Literature, Creative Writing, and Novel and Film at Claremore High School. She serves as the vice president of the Claremore Classroom Teachers Association and was a state Teacher of the Year Finalist in 2017.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Parents and teachers working together makes a difference for students
