Maximizing Learning Beyond School Hours: How Family Engagement Creates Educational Success

Ever feel like there just isn't enough time for everything you want to teach your students?

As educators, we know there are 168 hours in the week, but we have our students for so few of those hours. In Louisiana, students are required to attend school 6 hours per day. That means in a given week, students are in school for only 30 hours, and away from school the remaining 138 hours.

How can we possibly reinforce everything we teach in such a short amount of time?

The Simple Solution to Extending Learning Time

There is a way for educators to get more time without fancy gadgets or software (and no, it's not time travel; sorry, my DeLorean is still in the shop). The solution is surprisingly simple: engage families.

Whether you're already working closely with families or you're still trying to reconnect post-pandemic, here are proven strategies to extend learning beyond classroom walls.

Three Powerful Strategies for Family Engagement

1. Go Beyond the Report Card

Report cards are a fabulous start to the conversation. But they're just a start.

Think about it: Every day when you drive your car, you see your gas gauge, how many miles you've driven, even the air pressure in your tires. Don't you think that a child's ability to read is more important than that?

Empower your families with transparency. When parents see progress on diagnostics and interim assessments (as well as the goals for their student), they're empowered to support learning at home seven days a week, not just the five days their child is in class.

You don't have to make it complicated! Focus on two or three areas that would truly be transformational, and provide regular progress updates on those key metrics.

2. Use a Strengths-Based Approach

Families may be reluctant to engage when they've had negative experiences in school themselves. Do your students' guardians know how to play basketball? Work with tools? Cook family recipes?

Your next family night can incorporate the strengths they already have and celebrate what they already do well. Families that feel understood and celebrated are far more likely to support the work the school does.

3. Wrap Services Around the Family, Not Just the Student

Students don't exist in a vacuum. If you're feeding hungry kids through the free and reduced lunch program, the adults in the child's household are likely also dealing with food insecurity.

Think about ways to connect resources to the entire family:

• Your local United Way has many resources, and it doesn't have to be more complicated than a quick call to 2-1-1 (the social services directory staffed 24/7 with resources for families experiencing tough times)

• Local businesses may be willing to support your education organization with food drives, tax clinics, and more

  
  

How Technology Can Help Families Succeed

The Cohort Achievement Tracker helps address these challenges by creating easy-to-understand parent communication materials. Individual student reports can be created on demand throughout the year to help school staff talk to students and families about current progress and goals for each student. Check out a video of the Cohort Achievement Tracker or view a sample copy of it online here.

What makes this tool especially valuable is how it connects multiple data sources:

• Student goals

• Assessment results

• Growth trends from prior years

Individual student reports can be updated as frequently as needed, allowing families to easily monitor their child's progress and participate meaningfully in their educational journey.

Final Thoughts and How to Take Action

Have you experienced success using wraparound family supports? How has family engagement helped your school or organization! Let us know your thoughts- we’re dying to hear more. Ready to transform how your school supports families? Click here to request a demo or learn more.

About Instructional Data Solutions: Our mission is to remove barriers to enable education organizations to focus on what matters most. We assist school systems and education organizations of all sizes by collecting, analyzing, and clearly communicating data. We are committed to empowering educators through comprehensive data analytics and tailored support. Additionally, we provide dedicated support for operational needs, process improvement, and special projects, offering customized solutions to enhance effectiveness and success. Our solutions bridge the gap between data collection and instructional improvement in PK-12 settings.