I have been given the privilege of observing a four year old classroom at Head Start for the past several weeks. This week I was able to observe a parent involvement day planned with the children and staff. The center provided the materials and the shirts and the parent and child worked together to design a create summer shirt. It did not go smooth at first because the class had a huge amount of parents to come and participate. I interacted with the teachers and did the best I could helping them organize and make certain all the children had the correct size of shirt and their name written on it. I am always present during the early mornings when the parents are arriving and dropping off their children. I have actually been able to share and discuss the purpose of my visits with several parents. I have received direct input from some parents on whether or not they feel parent involvement is important. Every parent has answered yes, but one parent shared with me that they sometimes feel they disrupt the classroom instead of benefiting the classroom.
I had a special learning experience last week because I got to meet with the nutrition specialist for Head Start. She discussed her concerns with getting parents to attend the nutritional classes. I ask her when she has them and she responded late morning. I suggested early morning when the parents drop the children off or late in the afternoon when the parents pick the children up. I have learned from talking to many parents that we must consider their available time and think about how expensive gas is right now. Head Start serves low income families, so we must consider economic components. One of my focus questions is about nutrition and how to better encourage parent involvement. These encounters over the past couple of weeks helped with ideas toward my topic and focus questions.
