School and Communities Essay Example for Free

School and Communities EssayA school leader guides a bookman for such a truncated moment, but is one of the connections that contribute to a student being successful and allowing for the student to transition easily in the learning environment? According to the recommended readings in that respect is a correlation amidst the students home, community, and the school that facilitates the students transitions into and throughout the school system, leading to an environment that supports student success. There are several major transitions starting with kindergarten and progressing to the nitty-gritty school level, and then onto advanced school. Each transitional time is critical and requires additional support to continue and to master academically. Based on my review of various articles, the following topics are promising directions that perplex emerged as areas that will make the connection powerful and successful. Family involvement during Kindergarten dressing is essen tial for young students to achieve to their potential. The importance of being prepared academically for school, and its implications for elicits, has been the subject of extensive research and attention.One recent study suggests that fostering parent support andparent learning about Kindergarten readiness ass supporter ensure that children are adequately prepared to start school (Starkey Klein, 2000 Perroncel, 2000). In my readings it was suggested that a interlock of social connections that support children and families during the Kindergarten transition are needed, including interactions between teachers and children, children and peers, parents and teachers, and preschool teachers and Kindergarten teachers.While there is an increased amount of evidence about the elements that support Kindergarten readiness, there is besides a need to better integrate the early childhood development literature tofully understand the connections that make a difference and allow the student t o be successful. For example, Fantuzzo et al. (2000) conducted a study to assess parent involvement for children in day care, Head Start, and Kindergarten. Studies such as this can begin to build intellect of how parent involvement changes from pre-school to Kindergarten.Future research can also build our understanding of the specific types of family and community connections that provide a strong support network for children, particularly those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, as they prepare to enter Kindergarten.STUDENT TRANSITION THROUGH EDUCATION LEVELS 3 Despite the continued occurrence of the myth that family and community connections are primarily important at the elementary school level, researchers have begun exploring the effects of school, family, and community connections during transitions to center(a) and high school as well. Gutman and Midgley (2000) embed that during the transition from the elementary level to the middle school level, both school factors and family factors were important to support academic achievement in African American students. some other study found that, contrary to popular belief, middle and high school students do want their parents to be involved, especially in terms of homework help and other home-based types of support and involvement (Catsambis Garland, 1997). This study found that parent involvement does not decline, as expected, but rather shifts as students move into middle and high school. Although they continued to be involved, parents reported increasing dissatisfaction with their role in relationship to the school, especially involving school policy (Catsambis Garland).These results confirm the importance of continued exploration of necessarily that students have during the transition to middle school and to high school, and roles that families play in supporting these transitions. The wedge of school outreach is an important finding. School outreach and invitations to families and community members have a significant impact on the level and quality of family and community connections. In at least three studies, it has been found to have a greater impact than family characteristics on previous student academic achievement (Van Voorhis, 2000 Simon, 2000 Chrispeels Rivero, 2000).Simon found that when schools reach out, and families and community members feel that the school is extending invitations at a personal level, they respond with higher(prenominal) attendance at school-based activities and better quality of family involvement at home. The unique role that schools play in initiating and setting the tone for connections with families and the community cannot be denied. Researchers have also suggested that more research is needed regards to what motivates individual school staff members to reach out to parents and community and howschool staff can be hike motivated and supported in building these relationships.STUDENT TRANSITION THROUGH EDUCATION LEVELS 4 There is a growing understanding of the role that relationships between staff in schools and community organizations play in the development of successful collaborations between school and communities. Jehlet al. (2001) suggests that there are sticking points, in organizational cultures and value that can hinder school-community connections. They suggest that these sticking points must be understood and ploughed in order to build effective partnerships.These disconnects can be exacerbated by the lack of personal relationships that build trust and understanding between school and community staff (Center for Mental Health in Schools, 1999a). It is clear that family, school, and community connections can benefit children from before the time they enter Kindergarten until after they graduate from high school. Our charge in the commandal field of study is to come together to address the issues highlighted in this synthesis paper and to clarify the concept and outcomes of family and community con nections with schools.In doing so we will better understand these connections and create the knowledge needed to assimilate the potential of family, school, and community connections for student learning and students success. STUDENT TRANSITION THROUGH EDUCATION LEVELS 5 References Catsambis, S. , Garland, J. E. (1997). Parental involvement in students education during middle school and high school (CRESPAR Report 18). Baltimore, MD Johns Hopkins University. ED423328. http//www. csos. jhu. edu/crespar/Reports/report18entire. htm Center for Mental Health in Schools. (1999a). Expanding educational reform to address barriers to learningRestructuring student support services and enhancing school community partnerships. Los Angeles, CA Center for Mental Health in Schools. http//smhp. psych. ucla. edu/pdfdocs/Report/Expand. pdf Fantuzzo, J. , Tighe, E. , Childs, S. (2000). Family involvement questionnaire A multivariate assessment of family partnership in early childhood education. Jo urnal of Educational Psychology, 92(2), 367-375. Gutman, L. M. , Midgley, C. (2000). The role of protective factors in supporting the academic achievement of poor African American students during the middle school transition.Journal of Youth andAdolescence, 29(2), 223-249. Jehl, J. , Blank, M. J. , McCloud, B. (2001). Education and community building Connecting two worlds. Washington, DC Institute for Educational Leadership, Inc. http//www. communityschools. org/combuild. pdf Starkey, P. , Klein, A. (2000). Fostering parental support for childrens numeral development An intervention with Head Start families. Early Education and Development, 11(5), 659-680. Van Voorhis, F. L. (2000). The effects of interactive (TIPS) homework on family involvement and science achievement of middle grade students. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Florida.