By David W. Bartlett,

Principal,

Pettingill Elementary School

Education researchers tell us that the higher the level of parent involvement in a child’s education, the more successful that child will be in school. Parent involvement takes on many forms. While educators are pleased to have parents volunteer at school, the most valuable parent involvement takes place at home. Taking an active interest in a child’s school activities, encouraging responsible study and work habits, and reinforcing the school’s instruction help ensure student success. Most important of all is reinforcing the development of reading skills. Parents can do their part simply by reading to and with children from the time they are infants all the way through the elementary grades.

Pettingill School is completing the second year of a special initiative to improve student literacy. Part of the initiative involves intensive intervention for students in K-3 who are reading below grade level. Last spring, the school received a grant to fund a parent involvement component to the program. Those funds and the efforts of Pettingill staff members have been focused on encouraging all students and parents to read together at home. Research clearly indicates that children who read regularly with an adult at home are more successful readers and do better in school.

At the beginning of March, a special evening program was held for parents and their children. Ninety-eight percent of K-3 parents participated. Teachers shared information with parents about the benefits of reading with their children at home and ideas for making it fun. Participants also learned about an incentive program aimed at getting parents and students to read at least 100 minutes per week. The school’s business partner, Strainrite Company of Auburn, provided cloth book bags with a special logo. The Parent Teacher Organization gave students books to take home and read with their parents.

At the end of the month, students who had met the home reading goal took part in a celebration and received an additional book. Nearly all K-3 students met the goal. The celebration rewarded students for their reading efforts and encouraged them to continue to read at home with their parents.

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