Encouraging Family Involvement Boosts Classroom Attendance and Improves Reading Skills according to Principal
Hamilton Elementary School in San Diego, California, is leading the way in engaging parents in their children's education. Principal Dr. Brittany Daley has been instrumental in this approach, focusing on a combination of technology and relationship-building activities.
In the early days of reopening, the school's primary focus was on attendance and getting families inside the school. Two years ago, the author bought each teacher a blue chair for a dedicated space for parents or caregivers. This small gesture has made a significant impact, creating a welcoming environment for families.
Technology plays a crucial role in this approach. The school uses the ClassDojo mobile app, which automatically translates messages into parents' native languages and allows easy access to teachers and staff. This tool has been instrumental in building trust and collaboration between families and staff.
The schoolwide focus last year was phonics. Activities tied to concepts students needed reinforcement on, like long vowel patterns and sight words, were sent home for families to complete with their children, based on their individual assessments. This curriculum-aligned family interaction has proven beneficial, positively impacting student achievement, motivation, and social-emotional well-being.
Incorporating relationship-building activities that involve families directly with students’ learning has also been key. For instance, the school organizes low-stress events like a Halloween costume drive and Read Across America event to build trust and create meaningful relationships with students and families.
Roughly half of the students at Hamilton Elementary are English learners, with a diverse range of languages spoken among families. The school's focus on inclusivity is evident, with families running most of the community-based initiatives, including a boutique, food distribution center, book club, English classes, and a monthly meet-up for socializing.
These meet-ups were initially designed not for learning, but to build trust and create relationships. Today, approximately 200 caregivers attend every meet-up at Hamilton Elementary. The school's efforts have paid off, with 45% of students now reading at grade-level, and chronic absenteeism decreasing to 10%. The school aims to push this down to 8% in 2025-26.
The school's approach to parent engagement is a testament to the power of integrating technology, curriculum-aligned family interaction, and systemic embedding of engagement in school culture. It showcases that relationship-building is not just a side activity but central to school success. By adopting similar strategies, other schools can also foster a more inclusive and engaging learning environment for all students.
References: [1] National Literacy Trust (2021). The Impact of Parental Involvement in Reading. [2] EdTech Magazine (2020). The Power of Parent Engagement in K-12 Education. [4] EdSurge (2021). How to Effectively Engage Parents in K-12 Education.
- The educational approach at Hamilton Elementary School, driven by innovation in technology and relationship-building activities, is aimed at addressing the issue of inequality in access to education for its diverse population.
- The integration of education-and-self-development tools like the ClassDojo app, which promotes personal growth and career development, aids parents and caregivers in fostering their children's skill-training and academic success.
- investments in education-aligned family interaction, such as the phonics curriculum reinforced at home, contribute to student achievement, motivation, and social-emotional well-being, while also helping to bridge any learning gaps.
- By fostering a culture of relationship-building activities that involve families, Hamilton Elementary School has seen positive outcomes, such as decreases in chronic absenteeism and increases in students reading at grade level, demonstrating the significance of education-and-self-development for both students and parents.
