1. PARENT INVOLVEMENT
IN BUILDING
COMMUNITIES
Eleanor F. Moreno
Principal I

2. The term “parent involvement” is
perhaps the most misunderstood term
in today’s educational arena.
To understand the relationship between
parents and schools it is important to
recognize the types of behaviors that
nurture collaboration.

3. HARMFUL
BEHAVIORS
HELPFUL
BEHAVIORS
Avoidance Involvement
Blaming Problem-Solving
Rumor Honesty
Collusion Trust
Pessimism Optimism
Judgment Mutual Respect
Apathy Empathy
Defensiveness Active Listening
Opposition Collaboration

4. 5 Categories of Parent Behaviors
Within a School Community

5. Traditional Parent Volunteer
 volunteering at school – helping in the
classroom, fundraising, chaperoning, etc.
 The traditional parent volunteer
contributes highly to the success of the school
community but does not necessarily contribute
to student success.

6. Reactive Parent
The “provoker” parent, instead of employing
helpful behaviors to influence change, uses
techniques such as blaming, rumor, collusion and
gossip to achieve results.
 The Reactive parent is a low contributor to the
success of the school community and a low
contributor to student success.

7. Uninvolved Parent
 The “outsider” parent is generally invisible in
the school community and is isolated from
other parents.
 The Uninvolved Parent is a low contributor
to school success and a low contributor to
student success.

8. Mindful Parents
“mentor” parent approaches parenting with
conscious intention but does not necessarily
get involved at their children in school.
The Mindful Parent is a high contributor to
student success but a low contributor to the
success of the school community.

9. Fully-Engaged Parent
“collaborator”, acts in ways that facilitate its
development, and recognizes that effective
parenting cannot occur in isolation from other
parents and the school.
 emphatic listeners, communicators and
problem-solvers
 The Fully-Engaged Parent is a high contributor
to the effectiveness of the school community
and a high contributor to student success.

10. Traditional Parent Volunteer
(HELPER)
PTA Leader
Classroom Aide
Fundraiser
Board Member
(School Focused)
Fully-Engaged Parent
(COLLABORATOR)
Communicator
Problem-Solver
Active Listener
Strategist
(School and Child Focused)
Uninvolved Parent
(OUTSIDER)
Rumor
Blaming Disengaged
Collusion Isolated
Reactive Parent
(PROVOKER)
(Neither School or Child
Focused)
Mindful Parent
(MENTOR)
Teaches Respect
Instills Discipline
Models Positive Behaviors
Inspire Learning
(Child Focused)
Contribution to Student Success
ContributiontoSuccessof
SchoolCommunity
HIGH
HIGH
LOW

11. Beneficial Features of Parent
Involvement

12. a. Parent involvement in adult education and
parenting education programs;
b. Cooperative strategies for extending the
school curriculum beyond the school walls;
c. Efforts to help parents provide learning
experiences at home;
d. Home visits by personnel trained to facilitate
home-school communication;

13. e. In-classroom involvement of parents, business
leaders, and citizens;
f. Summer enrichment programs for both
parents and children;
g. Community-based learning
h. Use of school facilities for community
activities; and
i. University participation in an advisory and
supportive role.

14. Rethinking Parent Involvement

15. + Supportive of child (for
example, often
encourages)
+ Active participant (for
example, helps child with
homework)
- Not supportive of child
(for example, ignores
child)
+ Active participant
(for example, comes if
food is provided)
+ Supportive of child (for
example, cares for well-
being)
- In active participant (for
example, rarely comes to
school activities)
- Not supportive of child
(for example, is abusive)
- Inactive participant (for
example, no
communication with
school)
FOUR TYPES OF PARENTS

16. Thank you for listening!