Appropriate Parental Involvement in Education: A Selected Annotated Bibliography

Nicholas Fiedler

Dr. Shutkin

ED 100

November 3 2015

Appropriate Parent Involvement in Education: A Selected Annotated Bibliography

Hollifield, J. H., Center on Families, C. L., & Johns Hopkins Univ., B. M. (1994). High Schools Gear Up To Create Effective School and Family Partnerships. Research And Development Report, (5)

This article talks on a number of different studies and analyses of parent involvement in elementary, middle, and high schools. The commentary on parental involvement in high schools proved to be very informational. The author included an in depth look at ways to include parents at the high school level, and interspersed data from surveys throughout. As the article goes on it talks about other topics that are seemingly unrelated to my topic, however there are other facts I found to be helpful when the authors mentions “parent centers.” 

I intend to use this source to back up some of my claims with the statistical evidence provided, and with some of the facts and opinions stated in the piece. I will admit that the war is a bit dated. However, I will use this to my advantage by showing how attitudes expressing a desire for parent involvement have been satisfied over time. 

Kremer-Sadlik, T., & Fatigante, M. (2015). Investing in children’s future: Cross-cultural perspectives and ideologies on parental involvement in education. Childhood: A Global Journal Of Child Research, 22(1), 67-84. doi:10.1177/0907568213513307

This study offers a look at cross-cultural differences in parental involvement in a child’s education. Middle class families with students in elementary school were observed in Los Angeles and Rome, Italy. The distinguishing differences were declared, and discussed within the piece. This study was critical of both American and Italian standards of parental involvement. 

This piece will be particularly useful in offering a naysayer opinion to my thesis. The evidence presented in this article can be used to argue that parents should be very involved in their children’s education, as the opposing attitudes in Rome seem to restrict the future career opportunities of students. Furthermore, the idea that the involvement of parents in homework is perhaps the greatest way in which parents are involved in education is one that merits some discussion in my paper. 

Lloyd-Smith, L., & Baron, M. (2010). Beyond Conferences: Attitudes of High School Administrators Toward Parental Involvement in One Small Midwestern State. School Community Journal, 20(2), 23-44.

This source is a study of the attitudes regarding parental involvement of principals and principal figures at secondary schools in South Dakota. The study claims that the attitudes of administrators, in relation to family involvement, ultimately has an affect on the ways in which the family is involved. Through studying the opinions of these principals on a small scale, we can perhaps identify some of the issues in the topic of parental involvement at the high school level on a large scale. 

I will use this source to support the claim that parents need to be actively involved in their children’s education throughout all grades, K-12. I will also include some of the methods these principals offered as ways to involve parents in an attempt to elaborate, and support the claim further. Some of the statistical data can also be used to support this claim. 

Robbins, C., & Searby, L. (2013). Exploring Parental Involvement Strategies Utilized by Middle School Interdisciplinary Teams. School Community Journal, 23(2), 113-136.

This study examines the different ways in which middle school interdisciplinary teams are promoting parent involvement. Three different middle schools were examined, as were the sentiments of many teachers and parents from these middle schools. A great emphasis is placed in keeping parents involved throughout the years in which parental involvement begins to dwindle. 

I will use this study to express support for the claim that parents should remain involved in their child’s education throughout their time in primary and secondary school. The study will also be used to provide healthy ways in which parents can remain involved actively in the schooling system. 

Sarre, S. (2013). Time in reconstructing the (school) child. Childhood, 20(4), 521-534 14p. doi:10.1177/0907568212475100

This study observes the transition of power, and diminishment of parent responsibility as students grow older. This study claims that overall parental involvement grows less important as children become more autonomous. The is evident in things such as later bed times, and a general disinterest of parents regarding whether or not their children are doing their homework. The main focus of the author was to articulate the natural shift in responsibilities from parents to children. 

I will use this source to show how parental involvement does dwindle over time. By showing this, I can then more effectively argue that parents should be more involved in in the secondary education of their children. It will strengthen my argument to show that it is natural for this shift in responsibilities to take place. 

Walker, J. T., Shenker, S. S., & Hoover-Dempsey, K. V. (2010). Why Do Parents Become Involved in Their Children's Education? Implications for School Counselors. Professional School Counseling, (1). 27.

This article examines why and how parents can become involved in their children’s education from the understanding of a school counselor. The author claims that school counselors have an ongoing duty to involve the student’s family in his or her education. Outlined in the article are a number of ways in which counselors can promote an atmosphere where parents feel welcome, and students can see their parent’s involvement. The article also claims that increased parent involvement can have positive effects on students motivation and achievement in the classroom. 

I intend to use this article to support the claim that parents should maintain involvement in their children’s education. Also, I will use this article to argue that parental involvement is not only the responsibility of parents and teachers. Rather, involvement needs to be a collaborative effort between all parts of the educational system, perhaps even especially so from school counselors.