HomeWork: Lessons Learned in the Home for Success in School & Life was developed to give renewed significance to the potential for learning in the home from parents and those in parenting roles. It has been designed for use by educators and other professionals working with parents to equip them to be their children’s first teachers. A report by the Search Institute states that parenting adults from all backgrounds have the capacity and the desire to build developmental relationships with their children, and the evidence suggests that helping them to do that more intentionally and effectively would do much to help children in school and in life.
When parents assume an active role of teaching their children at home, the emphasis is on basic skills, understandings and behaviors, and traditionally, students brought them to school. Such qualities and behaviors can best be gained through formal and informal efforts of motivated parenting adults.
This training resource is designed for use by educators and other professionals who work with parents, to equip them to function successfully and effectively as their children’s teacher. The intention of HomeWork is to prepare the parent, role model, parent figure, or surrogate with skills and knowledge needed to effectively work with their children, preparing them to function well, away from home, in school, on the playground, the bus, in the super market, in church, or at the movie theatre. HomeWork offers practical learning experiences to use with their children that will ultimately impact and influence their behaviors, and nurture them as they become civil, creative, caring, contributing members in their communities and beyond.
When parenting adults are recognized and acknowledged as critical to their children’s early and ongoing learning, they become more responsive and motivated to perform effectively in these important roles.
This book uses a defined protocol—The Lesson Plan—of varied strategies, methods and activities to orient parents and prepare them to share important beliefs, ideas, goals and expectations they have for their children as they continue to grow and to learn. It is an instructional tool for professionals working with parents, providing training using reflection, application, creativity and input. While not a traditional “how to” book, it offers clear explanations and practical applications for readying parents and increasing their capacity for working well with their children, equipping them and building their confidence for success.
The contents of HomeWork’s ten lessons are distinctive and complete. They are “stand alone” entities, developed to provide clear, focused and comprehensive learning experiences directly related to the related topic.