December’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Check out the latest issue of the The School Community Journal.

I was an athletic trainer in the NFL and MLS. Three things I wish every parent knew is from The NY TImes.

How a Denver school engaged Latino dads to tutor students in the community on reading is from NPR.

A Persistent Parent Dilemma: How Much Time Should Young Children Watch Screens?

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/w…

[image or embed]

— Dan Willingham (@dtwuva.bsky.social) December 1, 2025 at 2:05 AM

Why Parents Aren’t Reading to Kids, and What It Means for Young Students is from The 74.

Parent Engagement Is About More Than Who Shows Up to Family Night is from Ed Week.

How to Successfully Institute Student-Led Conferences at Your School is from Edutopia.

What Parents Want Most From Schools: Clear, Honest Communication is from Ed Week.

Check out the School Community Network.

A Smartphone Before Age 12 Could Carry Health Risks, Study Says www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/w…

[image or embed]

— Larry Ferlazzo (@larryferlazzo.bsky.social) December 12, 2025 at 5:40 AM

November’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Be A Learning Hero has lots of research parent engagement with schools.

No Simple Answers for Kids and Screens* (Sara Konrath)

Back to School! is by Charles Duhigg.

How Can I Get My Kids To Talk About Their Lives? is by Charles Duhigg.

What happened when these parents finally took away their kids’ iPads is from The Washington Post.

John Fensterwald @edsource.org out here doing the lord's work to try to explain the California School Dashboard to folks. Some comments from me as well about usability, accessibility, and the importance of growth data (which are now in there but totally buried!) edsource.org/2025/underst…

[image or embed]

— Morgan Polikoff (@mpolikoff.bsky.social) November 13, 2025 at 3:15 PM

3 Ways to Foster Parent Communication in Middle School is from Edutopia.

Text, Email, App, or Paper Note? How Teachers Like to Communicate With Parents is from Ed Week.

New research from Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis found that parents experienced numerous compliance, learning, and psychological costs to implement special education. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/…

[image or embed]

— AERA (@aeraedresearch.bsky.social) November 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM

Parents Need AI Literacy Lessons, Too. A New Toolkit Aims to Help is from Ed Week.

Family literacy programmes for English as a second language (ESL): A systematic literature review of their effects and influencing factors

October’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Texting parents about number of school days their child has missed can lead to small improvements in attendance is from The Education Endowment Foundation.

How to Support Your Child if They Read Above Grade Level is from Parent Map.

9 tips for effective student-led conferences is from Teach Learn Grow.

From Pressure to Progress: How Districts Can Transform Family Engagement Challenges into Connection is from ACSA.

#QJE Nov 2025, #6, “Who You Gonna Call? Gender Inequality in External Demands for Parental Involvement,” by Buzard (@kbuzard7.bsky.social), Gee (@laurakgee.bsky.social), and Stoddard (@olgastoddard.bsky.social): doi.org/10.1093/qje/…

[image or embed]

— The Quarterly Journal of Economics (@qjeharvard.bsky.social) October 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM

This might be a fun video to show at a parents meeting sometime:

Parental Involvement in Inclusive Education: A Pathway to Effective Learning

OPINION: By trusting our instincts and coming together with a shared purpose, individuals can create meaningful change and protect their communities.

[image or embed]

— EdSource (@edsource.org) October 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Children Thrive When Teachers and Parents Act Like Allies is from Ed Surge.

These Schools Let Students Lead Parent-Teacher Conferences—With Big Results is from Ed Week.

September’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Today’s teens struggle with big feelings — and their parents struggle to have hard conversations with them. A psychologist explains how to help your kids cope with pressure and stress.

[image or embed]

— NPR (@npr.org) August 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM

Reimagining family engagement: A long-term strategy for COVID recovery is from Teach Learn Grow.

FIVE FACTS ABOUT THE FIRST-GENERATION EXCELLENCE GAP

Family engagement efficacy beliefs of educators: confirming a new measure is a new study.

Slate’s parenting podcast on smoother school transitions.

Back-to-school night basics is from Great Schools.

A Video Project That Asks Students to Celebrate Their Classmates is from Edutopia.

Parents, Your Job Has Changed in the A.I. Era is from The NY Times.

Many teens are using artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT for everything from homework to relationship advice. Experts say parents must lead the way in helping them understand the technology.

[image or embed]

— NPR (@npr.org) September 13, 2025 at 10:16 AM

A Family Communication Strategy That Works is from Edutopia.

How Parents Can Help Kids Ask the Big Questions is from Greater Good Magazine.

How to help parents embrace, not fear, new approaches to math is from Ed Source.

Parental involvement and student achievement in secondary schools: A correlational study is a new study.

I’ve Created A Free AI Chatbot To Support Parent Engagement In Schools

by

I was very pleased with the first two AI chatbots I create this week so, this morning, I decided to create another one!

The Parent Engagement In Schools Expert Companion is now available for use.

Like my previous two, its knowledge base consists only of resources I’ve vetted, though users can send me names of others they think I should add. The chatbot will provide a list of those experts on request, along with information on how to contact me to make suggestions.

Here are links to my posts about the other two chatbots, organized in similar ways but, of course, with different experts in their knowledge bases:

Check Out A Second Free AI Chatbot I Created – This One Is On Classroom Instruction

Try Out My New Free AI Chatbot For ELL Teachers

August’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Parental Involvement, Parenting Styles, and Children’s Academic Outcomes: A Second-Order, Three-Level Meta-Analysis journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3…

[image or embed]

— Paul Bruno (@paul-bruno.com) July 31, 2025 at 10:42 AM

Getting beyond answers like ‘fine’ and ‘nothing’: 5 simple ways to spark real talk with kids is from The Conversation.

Establishing Effective Communication With Parents at the Start of the Year is from Edutopia.

An Engaging Approach to Back-to-School Night is from Edutopia.

This Is the Letter I Want Every School Leader to Send to Parents is from Ed Week.

July’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Want to Reach Parents? Try a Podcast is from Ed Week.

How One District Uses Tech Nights to Bring Families Into Learning is from Ed Week.

Using Digital Media to Promote Screen-Free Learning is from Edutopia.

4 Parenting Priorities to Prevent Mental Health ‘Summer Slide’ is from KQED MindShift.

Guiding Kids to Talk to Parents About Their Assignments is from Edutopia.

Intentionally Planning for Family and Community Engagement is from Edutopia.

6 Ways to Increase Family Engagement in Special Education is from Edutopia.

5 Manageable Ways to Maintain Consistent Communication is from Edutopia.

These tips from experts can help your teenager navigate AI companions is from the Associated Press.

Six Ways to Respond to Your Child’s Tantrum is from Greater Good.

June’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

There’s a new issue of the School Community Journal.

How Schools Are Reaching Immigrant Families Over Summer is from Ed Week.

4 creative ways to engage children in STEM over the summer: Tips to foster curiosity and problem-solving at home is from The Conversation.

EAL video summaries for parents is from ELT Planning.

“We need dads to make a difference not just in school, but in our societies.” – parenting coach Dion Chavis

www.kqed.org/mindshift/63…

[image or embed]

— MindShift at KQED (@mindshift-kqed.bsky.social) June 13, 2025 at 6:34 AM

Family engagement as a long-term strategy for continued COVID recovery is from NWEA.

Family Playbook: Effective Principal Leadership is from the UChicago Consortium on School Research.

More Family Playbooks—in English and in Spanish:

How to Get Your Bilingual Child Actually Speaking: The One Simple Trick That Changes Everything

How to Go Deeper on Family Engagement is from Ed Week.

May’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

These 4 tips can make screen time good for your kids and even help them learn to talk is from The Conversation.

Using Existing School Messaging Platforms to Inform Parents about Their Child’s Attendance

must-read for parents to understand how college prices are set — and why, if you ask for more aid, you just might get it! scarcity is a myth — most colleges have trouble filling their seats www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/b…

[image or embed]

— Dana Goldstein (@danagoldstein.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 6:19 AM

Transitioning From Siloed Student Interventions to a Family Meeting Format is from Edutopia.

Why Student-Created Videos Belong in Family Conferences is from Edutopia

The White House is worried about kids’ screen time. Here are five things parents can do. is from The Washington Post.

April’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

The Case for Making Phone Calls Home is from Edutopia.

When families are involved in their child’s education, students have better attendance, earn higher test scores, and are overall more successful in school.

Use these tips to engage families in your school community: safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/voices-field…

[image or embed]

— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov.bsky.social) April 14, 2025 at 4:55 AM

March’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

What does our research say about grades, attendance, test scores, & “on track” metrics for @chipubschools.bsky.social students? How can parents use this information? Our new playbook dives into over 20 years of findings to provide families with tools: consortium.uchicago.edu/publications…

[image or embed]

— UChicago Consortium on School Research (@uchiconsortium.bsky.social) March 10, 2025 at 8:06 AM

How to Engage Parents for Support During Testing Season is from Edutopia.

Limiting screen time protects children’s mental health is from Science Daily.

Engaging with math at home at all ages is from Teach Learn Grow.

Family Engagement Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All. Here’s How to Do It Right is from Ed Week.

Parenting behaviours can influence adolescents’ aggressive behaviors – a short review of the evidence

childandfamilyblog.com/aspects-of-p…

[image or embed]

— Prof Sarah-Jayne Blakemore (@sjblakemore.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 12:44 AM

Many hope that parental empowerment will remain robust even as the Covid years recede into memory. They are optimistic that families will continue to push for more transparency about academic standards and practices in the wake of falling test scores.

Learn more: bit.ly/4kY7AJc

[image or embed]

— EdSource (@edsource.org) March 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM

February’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

OPINION: Parents have way more influence than they realize in shaping their children’s success is from The Hechinger Report.

From Haircuts to Home Language, One District’s Approach to Family Engagement is from Ed Week.

Family Engagement Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All. Here’s How to Do It Right is from Ed Week.

Yes, to all of this.

[image or embed]

— Ed Wiederer (@famousmred.bsky.social) February 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM

Meaningful Engagement With Newcomer Parents Helps Everyone. Here’s How To Do It is from KQED MindShift.

Teachers Say Parental Engagement Can Make or Break Efforts to Close Learning Gaps is from EdSurge.

3 Tips for Improving Student Attendance With Parents’ Help is from Ed Week.

6 Tips to Make Difficult Phone Calls Home More Manageable is from Edutopia.

Why It’s Important to Talk about Race with Children is from Scientific American.

January Parent Engagement Resources

by

Participation in School Activities by Spanish- and English-speaking Parents of Enrolled Students: 1999–2019

When you’re looking for #Familyengagement resources and you find this clip — a gem & wisdom from the amazing Juliana Urtubey

How awesome is her message, @nqcliteracy.bsky.social ?!? This is exactly what we’ll be discussing Thursdays

#ColorinColorado #NourishingCaregiverCollaborations

[image or embed]

— Emily Francis (@emilyfrancis.bsky.social) January 7, 2025 at 6:20 PM

A study in Review of Educational Research found that advantaged parents hoard educational resources and opportunities in three key areas: the creation and maintenance of white space; school choice/selection; and organizational routines. journals.sagepub.com/stoken/defau…

[image or embed]

— AERA (@aeraedresearch.bsky.social) January 7, 2025 at 8:05 AM

OPINION: Parents have way more influence than they realize in shaping their children’s success

Parents can be tricky for teachers and administrators to manage. They love their kids dearly, but the way that love gets expressed to teachers and school leaders can sometimes be less than constructive.…

[image or embed]

— The Hechinger Report (@hechingerreport.org) January 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM

‘Each year you delay giving a phone is a big win’: child screen-time solutions from around the world

[image or embed]

— The Guardian (@theguardian.com) January 11, 2025 at 7:50 AM

A little parent math talk with kids might really add up

[image or embed]

— The Hechinger Report (@hechingerreport.org) January 10, 2025 at 12:50 AM

Spencer Russell on What We Get Wrong About Reading Instruction is from Edutopia.

December Parent Engagement Resources

by

Parent involvement in schools ⬆️. 87% of K–12 students from English-speaking families had parents who reported attending a general school meeting in 2019, up from 79% in 1999. 75% Spanish-speaking families attended a school meeting in 2019, up from from 69% in 1999. nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pu…

[image or embed]

— Jill Barshay (@jillbarshay.bsky.social) November 25, 2024 at 7:32 AM

Agreed!

[image or embed]

— Larry Ferlazzo (@larryferlazzo.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 6:17 AM

Language Barriers Keep Parents From Attending School Activities, New Data Show is from Ed Week.

November Parent Engagement Resources

by

3 Tips for Less Stressful Parent-Teacher Conferences is from Edutopia.

How Schools Can Involve English Learners’ Parents in Their Kids’ Learning is from Ed Week.

Partnering with EL families: Building more inclusive environments where students can thrive is from ELLevation.

October’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Designing a Continuous Parent Education Curriculum is from Edutopia.

‘My teenage children are bright but unmotivated. How much should I get involved with their school work?’ is from The Guardian.

Effective Ideas for Engaging Parents and Caregivers is from Edutopia.

A Primer on Parent-Teacher Conferences for New Teachers is from Edutopia.

Should Parents Not Say ‘I’m So Proud of You’ or ‘Good Job’? is from MindShift.

September’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

A Back-to-School Guide for Connecting with Families is from ASCD.

Is your kid’s screen time a problem? is from The Washington Post.

How parents can limit children’s harmful cellphone use at home is from Ed Source.

A new poll reveals the worries of Gen Z kids — and how parents can support them is from NPR.

10 tips: Writing for a Linguistically & Culturally Diverse School Audience is from Education Impact Exchange.

3 Strategies for Encouraging Dads’ Involvement in Schools is from MindShift.

An Interactive Option for Back-to-School Night is from Edutopia.

Navigating Tricky Parent-Teacher Conferences When Time Is Short is from Edutopia.

5 Culturally Responsive Family Engagement Strategies is from Edutopia.

Open House Planning for Secondary Educators is from Edutopia.

The 3 Secrets to Better Parent-Teacher Communication is from Ed Week.

Maintaining Balance in Parent-Teacher-Student Discussions is from Edutopia.

A Practical Guide to Emailing Parents is from Edutopia.

August’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Family Math Is More Than Homework Help is from Ed Post.

How can parents make their voices heard at school? | Quick Guide is from Ed Source.

July’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

All this parenting advice is getting in the way of parenting is from The Washington Post.

June’s Parent Engagement Resources

by

Family Playbook: School Suspensions, Discipline & Restorative Justice is from the University of Chicago Consortium.

Great news, parents: You do have power over your tweens’ screen use is from Science Daily.

3 Strategies for Encouraging Dads’ Involvement in Schools is from MindShift.

How to turn ‘summer slide’ into learning opportunities for children is from The Washington Post.

What 40 Million Messages Tell Us About Parent-Teacher Communication is from EdSurge.