A common thread in student achievement studies is that when parents are involved, students demonstrate higher motivation and self confidence, better grades and are less likely to drop outof school. According to the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at John Hopkins University, the earlier parent involvement begins in a child’s education the more powerful the effects. Furthermore, the NNPS argues that the most effective forms of parent involvement are those, which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activates at home.
It’s fair to say that most parents want to be actively involved in their children’s education, and years of research support the importance of parent involvement in student achievement. So, what is keeping many families from being as involved as they want to be? Time? Know how? Personal lack of confidence in the subjects our children are learning? In talking to parents, we found that time and feeling that they don’t know how to be involved effectively were often the culprits. (Lack of confidence in math seemed to creep up as the math became more complicated, but that is subject for another article) “Where can I find the time to be involved?” and “What else can I do to help my child?” are very popular questions among our survey respondents.
The answer to those questions in regards to Math-Whizz: The Parent Dashboard. The Parent Dashboard is available to all Math-Whizz parents, those who subscribe for their children at home and by subscription to those whose child receives their account through school. Available online 24/7, it provides immediate, real-time information about your child’s progress, illustrating strengths and weaknesses across topics and allows you to be a direct participant in your child’s math education.
Children want to know their parents notice their hard work, so send messages of encouragement, or print out a certificate of achievement. If your child struggles in math, he or she may feel ashamed and embarrassed and may not feel comfortable asking for help at home or school; the reporting feature shows you exactly where your child is struggling and allows you as a parent to help and support your child before frustration sets in. For children that are ahead or strong in math, they may not try as hard – because it comes easy. Using the dashboard is a great way to motivate your child to continue to work hard.
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- Progression Report
As an extra layer of support, forward your child’s report to their school teacher and see how you can work together in helping your child reach their potential in math (whether they are a bit behind or are looking for additional challenges). We encourage all Whizz parents to engage with their child’s Math-Whizz Journey; when parents are involved in learning children benefit.