Parent Involvement at Sacramento Montessori School
Research tells us that the earlier in a child’s educational process parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects. Decades of research show that when parents are involved students have:
- Higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates
- Better school attendance
- Increased motivation, better self-esteem
- Lower rates of suspension
- Decreased use of drugs and alcohol
- Fewer instances of violent behavior
Notice: Due to COVID-19, no parents are allowed onsite until further notice.
Moreover, family participation in education was twice as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status, while the more intensely parents are involved, the more beneficial the achievement effects.
In Montessori, a parent’s involvement in the education of the child, particularly the young child, is essential for that child’s development. “Involvement” can come in many forms. For example, here at Sacramento Montessori School, a parent could choose to sit as a member of the Parent Advisory Group (PAG), a Group which helps to guide the School in its fundraising efforts, its special events, and its work with families. Alternatively, a parent might choose to participate in the Annual Gardening Day, held early in the Spring, or in the Fall Festival. There are a myriad of ways parents can be involved. Parents and teachers form a partnership, for example, in which teachers inform parents of the kinds of Montessori activities in which the child is engaged at school and which the parent can support at home. And, by the same token, parents can let teachers know of events in the child’s life – the birth of a sibling, the visit of grandparents, and the like. Working together, the child can be supported in her/his work to “construct” himself or herself as Dr. Maria Montessori believed each child does.
Monthly Parent Meetings and monthly Parent Advisory Group Meetings are typically held on the last Thursday (Parent Meetings) and last Tuesday (Parent Advisory Group) of each month. These Meetings are a time for parents to come together, to get to know each other, to network, and to learn more about the Montessori method. The Meetings are held in the afternoons from 5:15 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. or later, and the Chef prepares sumptuous and nutritious appetizers for parents to enjoy. Your child may stay in his/her classroom during the Meetings or join you as you prefer.
We see each parent as a member of our School’s community, and we welcome your participation.
We hope that you would join us on your child’s educational journey. It is our honor to have you and your child here at Sacramento Montessori School, and we look forward to a wonderful experience together.
Resources:
- Cotton, K., Wikelund, K., Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, School Improvement Research Series. In Parent Involvement in Education.
- Parent Teacher Association
- Walberg (1984) in his review of 29 studies of school–parent programs.
- Cotton, K., Wikelund, K., Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, School Improvement Research Series. In Parent Involvement in Education.
