Teaching practices and strategies to involve inner-city parents at home and in the school

Abstract

Few studies have observed what teachers actually do in the classroom to encourage parental involvement in their children’s education. Over the school year, the various teaching practices and strategies of two teachers in an inner-city elementary school that has had public recognition in its efforts to involve parents were gathered through interviews and observations. The five main teaching practices and strategies to engage parents are practicing parent outreach, establishing relationships with the parents, creating a positive classroom climate, teaching to involve parents, and making the community–school connection. This study offers insights into teachers’ classroom practices that are connected to various specific strategies to involve parents.