Parent Involvement Survey: What can parents do at home?

By Dr. Patrick S. Creagan, Pullman Elementary School Principal

In late November 2006, the following survey was sent home to all Pullman Elementary School households:

Which of the following do you feel are the most important things parents can do at home to help their children do better in school?

Very Important Not Important

Please circle your rating of EACH of the following options. A rating of “1” is very important; “5” is not important.

1 2 3 4 5	Provide daily routines and a loving, stable home life for your child.
1 2 3 4 5	Set a good example by being honest, respectful and tolerant of others.
1 2 3 4 5	Give your child practice exercising responsibility.
1 2 3 4 5	Remember that you are the adult and YOU are in charge.
1 2 3 4 5	Provide alternative activities to computer games and TV.
1 2 3 4 5	Talk to your child and pay attention to what your child says to you.
1 2 3 4 5	Read to your child every day and have your child read to you.
1 2 3 4 5	Tell and show your child that you love him, every day.
1 2 3 4 5	Make sure that your child gets enough sleep each night.
1 2 3 4 5	Employ firm, fair and consistent discipline at home.
1 2 3 4 5	Teach your child a new word every day.
1 2 3 4 5	Remember that you are your child’s first and most influential teacher.
1 2 3 4 5	Spend time paying attention to your child.
1 2 3 4 5	Show your child respect and expect her to respect others.
1 2 3 4 5	Try to eat at least one meal a day with the entire family.
1 2 3 4 5	Provide a quiet place for your child to do homework.
1 2 3 4 5	Don’t overload your child with activities.
1 2 3 4 5	Make sure your child knows that you expect him to do his best.
1 2 3 4 5	Make sure your child is required to live with the consequences of his actions.
1 2 3 4 5	Talk with your child about his homework.
1 2 3 4 5	Talk about school every day and make sure your child knows you think school is important.
1 2 3 4 5	Help your child develop homework routines.
1 2 3 4 5	Give your child lots of stimulating experiences, show her things and explain them to her.
1 2 3 4 5	Teach your child to listen and follow directions.
1 2 3 4 5	Manage your child’s TV time.
1 2 3 4 5	Other: (Please specify.)

As of December 6, 2006, the office received sixty-eight completed surveys. A significant number of random samples were selected and studied. The following are the statements that our Pullman Elementary School parents feel are the most important things they can do at home to help their children do better in school:

Tell and show your child that you love him, every day.

Show your child respect and expect her to respect others.

Talk with your child about his homework.

Teach your child to listen and follow directions.

Spend time paying attention to your child.

Provide daily routines and a loving, stable home life for your child.

Set a good example by being honest, respectful and tolerant of others.

Talk about school every day and make sure your child knows you think school is important.

Talk to your child and pay attention to what your child says to you.

The same survey was also given to the Pullman Elementary School faculty and staff. Here are the statements the staff feels are most important:

Provide daily routines and a loving, stable home life for your child.

Set a good example by being honest, respectful and tolerant of others.

Tell and show your child that you love him, every day.

Employ firm, fair and consistent discipline at home.

Spend time paying attention to your child.

Remember that you are the adult and YOU are in charge.

Talk to your child and pay attention to what your child says to you.

Remember that you are your child’s first and most influential teacher.

Show your child respect and expect her to respect others.

Please note, the results of this survey by the parents and the staff show the statements that received the most “number ones” that were circled. This report does not imply that the other statements are less important to the healthy development of children. The purpose of this report was simply to give the top results of the survey. The faculty and staff of Pullman Elementary School will study and discuss this data. We greatly appreciate the time taken by everyone who completed the surveys. Thank you and Happy Holidays!