Learning at Home Pre K-3

1. Family involvement is crucial for children's academic success and development

The most accurate predictor of students' success in school is not socio economic status, ethnic or racial background, or the parents' level of education. It is the extent to which the family is involved in creating a home environment that encourages learning, communicates high, yet reasonable, expectations for success, and becomes involved with the child's school-based education.

Research confirms benefits: Numerous studies show that children whose parents are involved perform better academically, have fewer behavior problems, and demonstrate improved language growth, reading scores, motivation to achieve, work habits, and prosocial behavior. Family involvement also leads to long-term social benefits such as higher high school completion rates and less substance abuse.

Parental empowerment: Involvement in children's education has value for parents as well. They tend to be more accepting of their children, more attuned to their needs, and more likely to provide positive reinforcement. Participation can also be a gateway for parents' personal growth, contributing to feelings of self-worth and competence, especially among low-income and ethnic minority populations.

School-wide impact: Schools with high levels of family involvement usually outperform similar programs with low levels. Teachers and principals in these schools more often experience high job satisfaction and feel more respected in their positions. The benefits of family involvement persist over time, with parents who are involved during the early years likely to continue their involvement as their children progress through elementary school.

2. Interactive homework engages families and enhances learning at home

Interactive homework assignments based on parent-child interactions encourage conversations related to learning activities. They tend to be more authentic—connected to children's experiences in the real world—than traditional homework assignments, and, for this reason, are more engaging.

Benefits of interactive homework:

• Increases parents' interest and participation in homework
• Encourages positive attitudes about learning at home for children and family members
• Links schoolwork with real-life situations
• Helps parents understand more about what their children are learning in school
• Enables parents and teachers to frequently communicate about children's work, progress, or problems

Key elements of effective interactive homework:

• Tailored to children's interests and needs
• Linked to home experiences
• Culturally relevant
• Clear directions
• Family input solicited
• All necessary materials provided
• Flexibility built in (e.g., choice or extended time frame)
• Family participation recognized and reinforced through positive feedback

3. Effective learning activities integrate multiple subjects and skills

Children perceive the world as an integrated whole, not divided into bits of information in discrete categories like reading, writing, or mathematics.

Holistic learning: Children's development and learning are interconnected across various areas. Development in one area influences and is influenced by development in other areas. For example, children's language and intellectual development are intertwined, each supporting the other.

Benefits of integrated activities:

• Approximate real-world experiences
• Help children make connections across content areas
• Enable children to construct knowledge that is personally relevant
• Allow children to apply skills and concepts in meaningful ways
• Address intellectual dispositions or "habits of mind"
• Motivate children's continued eagerness to learn

Examples of integrated activities:

• Cooking: Combines math (measuring), science (observing changes), language (following instructions), and social skills (cooperation)
• Gardening: Integrates science (plant growth), math (counting, measuring), language (vocabulary), and art (observing and drawing plants)
• Building with blocks: Incorporates math (spatial reasoning), physics (balance, stability), problem-solving, and social skills (collaboration)

4. Cultural relevance in materials strengthens family engagement

Schools that recognize and use families' preferred ways of communicating and interacting take an important step toward building school-family partnerships. Schools that include opportunities for families to be involved in culturally responsive curriculum increase the likelihood they will participate.

Importance of cultural relevance:

• Lessens cultural discontinuity between home and school
• Validates cultural identities
• Motivates family participation
• Helps bridge home and school cultures
• Increases the likelihood of success for children of color

Strategies for cultural inclusion:

• Integrate families' funds of knowledge into the curriculum
• Share culturally relevant children's literature and activities
• Include portrayals of individuals with whom families can identify
• Use bilingual materials when appropriate
• Incorporate cultural traditions and practices in learning activities
• Recognize and celebrate diverse cultural holidays and events

Benefits:

• Strengthens family-school connections
• Enhances children's sense of belonging and self-esteem
• Promotes multicultural understanding among all students
• Encourages families to share their cultural knowledge and experiences

5. Playful, hands-on activities promote deeper understanding and retention

Play is a catalyst for learning. Through play, children have opportunities to make sense of their experiences. Play enables them to learn and practice concepts and skills, express their ideas and emotions, and develop symbolic capabilities.

Characteristics of effective play-based learning:

• Self-initiated
• Spontaneous
• Actively engaging
• Intrinsically motivating
• Carried on for its own sake
• Pleasurable

Benefits of playful learning:

• Builds academic skills such as vocabulary and print recognition
• Develops number sense, measurement, and geometry concepts
• Strengthens intellectual dispositions and curiosity
• Encourages problem-solving and critical thinking
• Fosters creativity and imagination
• Promotes social-emotional development

Examples of playful learning activities:

• Dramatic play (e.g., pretend grocery store, post office)
• Building and construction (e.g., with blocks, Legos)
• Board games and card games
• Outdoor exploration and nature play
• Arts and crafts projects
• Music and movement activities

6. Teachers play a vital role in bridging home and school learning environments

Teachers play critical roles in encouraging families to nurture children' learning. They must carefully consider how homework is conceptualized, how appropriate it is for each child, and how procedures related to it are structured.

Teacher responsibilities:

• Design appropriate learning-at-home activities
• Provide clear guidelines and expectations for families
• Offer resources and support to facilitate home learning
• Communicate regularly with families about children's progress
• Recognize and reinforce family efforts and participation

Strategies for effective home-school connections:

• Send regular newsletters or updates about classroom activities
• Host family nights or workshops to demonstrate learning activities
• Provide take-home kits with materials and instructions
• Use technology (e.g., class websites, apps) to share information and resources
• Offer flexible options for family involvement to accommodate diverse schedules and circumstances

Benefits of strong teacher-family partnerships:

• Improved student achievement and motivation
• Increased family engagement in children's education
• Enhanced communication and mutual understanding between home and school
• Greater support for teachers' instructional efforts
• Positive impact on school climate and community relations

7. Family projects foster creativity, bonding, and reinforce cultural identity

Like other types of interactive homework, family projects are tangible bridges between home and school; they directly link children's at-home and at-school experiences. These informal projects are engaging and non-intimidating. They highlight family strengths and relationships because their open-ended nature enables every family to participate in their own way.

Benefits of family projects:

• Provide opportunities for shared learning experiences
• Inspire discussions that further children's language development
• Create contexts for joint problem-solving
• Allow parents to model and encourage creativity
• Reinforce children's family and cultural identity
• Foster closer relationships between parents and children

Examples of family projects:

• Creating a family time capsule
• Designing a family cube with photos and information
• Developing a personal timeline of important life events
• Compiling an "All About Me" book
• Making a family calendar with important dates and events
• Contributing to a class cookbook with family recipes
• Building a family tree or heritage display

Key considerations:

• Provide ample time for project completion
• Offer clear instructions and expectations
• Be sensitive to diverse family circumstances and needs
• Recognize and celebrate each family's unique contributions

8. Adapting activities to family circumstances ensures inclusive participation

Understanding family strengths and challenges enables teachers to tailor activities to be of most benefit to individual children. It also serves as the basis for knowing how to communicate most effectively with families about learning-at-home activities.

Factors to consider:

• Language(s) spoken at home
• Family composition and living arrangements
• Work schedules and availability
• Access to resources and materials
• Cultural background and traditions
• Educational experiences of family members

Strategies for inclusive participation:

• Offer activities with flexible completion timelines
• Provide materials in multiple languages when needed
• Include options for various skill levels and interests
• Consider alternative ways to complete activities (e.g., oral vs. written)
• Offer support or modifications for families with limited resources

Benefits of adaptable activities:

• Increased participation from diverse families
• Greater sense of inclusion and respect for all families
• Enhanced learning experiences tailored to individual needs
• Improved communication and understanding between home and school
• Stronger home-school partnerships across diverse communities

9. Regular communication with families builds strong home-school partnerships

Regular and direct home-school connections are likely to magnify the effectiveness of both parents' and teachers' efforts and the value of both home and school as learning environments.

Effective communication strategies:

• Use multiple channels (e.g., newsletters, emails, phone calls, face-to-face meetings)
• Provide information in families' preferred languages
• Offer both formal and informal opportunities for interaction
• Encourage two-way communication and feedback
• Share positive news and achievements, not just concerns

Key elements of successful communication:

• Consistency: Establish regular patterns of communication
• Clarity: Use clear, jargon-free language
• Relevance: Focus on information that is meaningful and actionable for families
• Timeliness: Share information when it is most useful and applicable
• Respectfulness: Acknowledge and value families' perspectives and input

Benefits of strong communication:

• Improved understanding of children's needs and progress
• Increased family engagement in children's education
• Enhanced trust and collaboration between families and educators
• Greater alignment of home and school expectations and goals
• Improved student outcomes through coordinated support

Last updated: August 4, 2024