Nov. 1, 2024 – This November, Team Duval is partnering with the State of Florida to celebrate “Family Engagement in Education Month,” a time dedicated to highlighting the importance of incorporating the whole family in a child’s educational journey. The district’s Family Engagement Department has made it easy for families to get involved by providing free resources, including an activities calendar and a digital pledge.
“After all, the more involved our families and community members are in our students' lives, the more successful they will be,” says district Family Engagement Supervisor Regan Copeland.
Family involvement: A key to student success
The evidence is clear –– when families support their child’s education, students thrive. In fact, a study conducted by the American Psychological Association reveals that when parents become involved in their student’s schooling, they’re more likely to perform better academically, engage more in school, and have more motivation.
To help families facilitate more involvement, the district’s Family Engagement Department has created a daily activity calendar for the entire month of November. The calendar – available in both English and Spanish – contains a wide range of simple yet practical activities including games, conversations, videos, and resources. What’s more, Copeland says the calendar helps take the guesswork out of ways families can initiate activities with their kids.
“Each day includes a relevant activity that is centered around supporting a student's academic success,” shares Copeland.
Some activities include:
“Walk and Talk.” Go for a walk with your family and talk about each of your days
“Explore.” Explore a new hobby with your child
“Teach Me.” Have your child or children pretend to be the teacher and present a lesson on what they’re learning in class.
Copeland stresses that the calendar was created with inclusivity in mind, making it easy for any parent or relative to participate, regardless of their academic background. The hope is that by having a framework of activities for November, families will be empowered to continue the rest of the year.
Sign the pledge
Families looking to take an extra step of commitment and accountability are invited to take a digital pledge, also provided by the Family Engagement Department.
“Signing the Family Engagement pledge is a symbolic way of solidifying their commitment to their child's education while demonstrating the importance of lifelong learning,” says Copeland.
As parents and caregivers take advantage of these resources, Copeland says the ultimate goal is to remember that education is a family effort –– one that can be both fun and fulfilling.
“We hope the excitement is contagious and families share these opportunities with others,” says Copeland. “Engaging our school district, its students, and their families in the celebration of ‘Family Engagement in Education’ month is a fun way to incorporate the whole family in the learning process.”