Education Week: Nanuet Parents Get Involved with Elementary Students

Miller Elementary Teacher Ann Eng scurried in and out of her classroom to bring in extra folding chairs several times. Her class size almost doubled on Thursday when parents came in to spend part of the day with their children.

As part of American Education week, Miller Elementary opened its doors to parents to implement their theme: “Home School Literary Connection.”

“It’s important that we work with parents as partners. We cannot be successful without the involvement of parents,” said Eng. “Parents are the No. 1 teacher.”

About 20 parents attended class with their students in Eng’s class. She briefed the parents and students on the narrative activity they were about to do and let them at it. After picking out a book, the parents went through a literary checklist with their child and the two read the book

“For American Education Week, our theme is “Home School Literary Connection,” said Miller Principal Betsy Smith, adding that this is the second year with that theme and that the teachers were the ones to come up with the idea to coincide this theme with American Education Week. “The teachers are trying to find a way for parents to connect with the classroom curriculum. The parents sit down with their students and have a try at it. We want the parents to not just be observers, but participants.

 “We need more parents to be involved in the curriculum, now more than ever,” said Eng.

Parents are asked to submit feedback on their experience and the question is open ended. Smith said that the feedback has been positive with parents appreciative of spending the day with their child and some learning a literacy thing or two to bring home with them.

“By opening up the classroom for the parents, they can see the dynamics of the classroom,” Smith said. “Some have seen new ideas on how to approach it at home.”