Parent Engagement: How to get involved in your child's education

Parents have a great influence on student achievement. Parent engagement in schools and learning make PEI schools better places to learn and grow.

School councils and home and school associations

All schools have school councils or home and school associations. Getting involved is a great way to learn more about what is happening in your child’s school. It is also an opportunity to meet other parents and educators in your community to discuss school and education issues that are important to you. You can learn more about how to get involved by speaking with your school principal or visiting the PEI Home and School Federation. 

District advisory councils

The school council nominates members to participate in District Advisory Councils (DACs). DACs meet regularly to provide advice to the Minister of Education on priorities for their family of schools.

Encourage learning at home

Parents are the first teachers children have. Make reading a daily routine. Learning and literacy skills can be used every day.

• Show an interest. Ask your child about school activities and talk about what is discussed in school each day.
• Read bed time stories, have children help you read recipes, write messages to your family and post them around the house, even games and skits can be learning opportunities.
• Take your child to a nearby public library to check out materials for homework or check out online resources. Let your children select their own books. Use your visit to the library to become a reading role model. Take some books out for yourself and read a lot. Let your child see you read and hear you talk about your books.

Homework

Establish a routine by sticking to a regular time for your child to complete homework assignments. Ensure the room your child studies in is quiet, has plenty of light, and has school supplies close at hand. Remove distractions by turning off the television and devices during homework time.

• Be informed. Find out about the school's policy on homework at the beginning of the school year. Your teacher can tell you about the assignments that are given and what kind of time frame the child has to complete them.
• Be involved. Ask the teacher how you can help with homework. Be available to answer your child's questions, look over completed assignments, and encourage your child to share returned assignments so you can read the teacher's comments.
• Talk. Discuss homework with your child. Talking about an assignment can help your child think it through and break it down into small, workable parts.
• Provide encouragement. Find ways to support your child's efforts in completing assignments.