Parent Resources
Parental involvement is a combination of commitment and active participation on the part of parent to the school and to the student. As parents you can ensure that your child receives the benefits from parental involvement by staying up to date on what is happening in the classroom.
Tulsa Public Schools is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he or she needs to succeed in school and beyond. As a result, these involvement opportunities empower parents to take action. By connecting parents to school officials, community members, other parents, knowledge, and powerful allies, these opportunities build bridges and networks that support schools and sustain whole communities.
- Parent Involvement Plan
- Parental Involvement for Pre-K
- Parental Involvement for Kindergarten
- Parental Involvement for first grade
- Parental Involvement for Second Grade
- Parental Involvement for Third Grade
- Parental Involvement for Fourth Grade
- Parental Involvement for Fifth Grade
- Parental Involvement for Sixth Grade
- District Involvement Information
Parent Involvement Plan
Cooper Elementary Parent Involvement Plan
PURPOSE: Tulsa Public Schools shall promote parent involvement in all schools as mandated by Title I, Every Child Succeeds Act and work as equal partners with parents in providing quality learning experiences for every student, every day, without exception.
The Board believes and acknowledges that parent involvement raises the academic achievement level of students. Additionally, parents become empowered, teacher morale improves and communities grow stronger when parents take an active role in educating their children. To this end, schools shall involve parents in the education of their children at all grades levels. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall provide coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist all schools in planning and implementing effective parent involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance. Every Child Succeeds Act establishes that to build capacity for parent involvement within schools, a district is to “develop jointly with, agree on with, and distribute to parents of participating children a written Parent Involvement Policy”.
Building Parents Capacity for Involvement
The Board believes that empowering parents to insist on improvement and giving schools extra incentive to do so and by giving parents options regarding their children’s education helps the district to realize its vision to become the “District of Choice” for patrons of the community. As a result of this belief, the Board shall create an environment of supportive and collaborative parent involvement.
1. Program Information for Parents: Cooper Elementary School shall provide assistance to parents of all children in understanding such topics as the state’s academic content and achievement standards, the assessments being used, the requirements of Title 1, Part A, Every Child Succeeds Act and how to monitor their children’s progress and work with educators to improve their child’s achievement. Each semester the school will host a literacy night (focusing on reading and math).
2. Materials and Training: Cooper Elementary School shall provide materials and training, such as literacy training and training on how to use technology, to help parents work with their children to improve achievement.
3. Educate Educators: Cooper Elementary School shall educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs and build ties between parents and the school.
4. Preschool Coordination: Cooper Elementary School shall “to the extent feasible and appropriate,” coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs in our preschool program, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children.
5. Understandable Communication: Cooper Elementary School shall ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings and other activities is sent to the parents of all children in a format, and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.
6. Other Requested Activities: Cooper Elementary School shall provide such other reasonable support for parental involvement activities as parents may request.
Parental Involvement for Pre-K
Parental Involvement for Pre-K Reading is the following:
Communication
- Promote parents to be involved in PTA
- Early Childhood Parent meetings
- Ask parents to volunteer in the classroom
- Weekly school bulletin with activities listed
- Monthly parent contact
Learning at Home:
- Students will have homework folders to help parents encourage their child at home
- Parents are encouraged to take their child to the public or school library
- Monthly list of books read with family due by the end of the month
Parental Involvement for Pre-K Math is the following:
Communication:
- Interactive homework for parents and students to interact
- Teachers will promote PTA
- Parents are asked to attend the Early Childhood Parent Mtg.
- Teachers will ask parents to volunteer.
- Teachers will contact parents on a monthly basis
Learning at Home:
- Teachers will send home weekly homework folders involving parents and students to assist with math
Parental Involvement for Kindergarten
The Parental Involvement for Kg. Reading is the following:
Communication:
- Student work sent home
- Take-home folders sent home weekly with important information
- Quarterly progress report
- Parent/teachers conferences in the fall and the spring
- Weekly communication log
- Weekly school bulletin with activities listed
- Monthly parent contact
Learning at Home:
- Parents are encouraged to take their child to the public library
- Parent/child homework
- Monthly reading goal
- Weekly reading log
- Take home readers
The Parental Involvement for Kg. Math is the following:
Communication:
- Home and Back folders
- Back-to-School Night (to reinforce homework, reading at home, and volunteers)
- Monthly contact with parents
Learning at Home:
- Parent/Child interactive homework
Parental Involvement for first grade
Parental Involvement for First Grade Reading is the following:
Communication:
- First grade teachers will participate in a Back-to School Night, during which they will provide parents with reading information.
- First grade teachers will send home daily take home folders with students’ progress and important feedback related to students’ reading.
- First grade teachers will send home students’ graded spelling tests to inform parents of their children’s progress.
- Monthly parent contact
- Weekly school bulletin with activities listed
Learning at Home:
- First grade teachers will send home a weekly spelling list as well as spelling homework at least once a week.
- First grade teachers will send home weekly homework including phonics practice
- and weekly reading log
- Monthly sight word list sent home to be practiced
Parental Involvement for First Grade Math is the following:
Communication:
- First grade teachers will send home daily take home folders with students’ progress and feedback related to students’ achievement in math.
- First grade teachers will send home Topic Opener from Envision Math to let parents know what the students will be learning in that math topic.
- First grade teachers will make monthly parent contact
Learning at home:
- Students will complete math homework which expands on classroom learning from the Scott Foresman Envision curriculum.
- Parents are encouraged to provide feedback about their child’s learning at home.
Parental Involvement for Second Grade
Parental Involvement for Second Grade Reading is the following:
Communication:
- Second Grade teachers will send a home and back folder with the students every night. This will contain information on student progress, and any information that needs to be taken home.
- Second grade teachers will make monthly parental contact
- Weekly school bulletin with activities listed
Learning at Home:
- The second grade teachers will participate in reading Logs and the Book It program.
- Second grade teachers will provide students with weekly homework packets which are modified according to student needs.
- Second grade teachers will provide parents with a list of activities to promote reading and writing at home.
Parental Involvement for Second Grade Math is the following:
Communication:
- Second grade teachers will send home daily take home folders with students
- Second grade teachers will send home quarterly progress reports
- Second grade teachers will make monthly contact with parents
- Second grade teachers will host a parent night where they will provide information on fun, easy ways to build basic math skills.
Learning at home:
- Second grade teachers will send home weekly homework packets and parents are encouraged to work with the students to complete the math assignments.
- Parents are encouraged to help students with basic addition and subtraction drills
Parental Involvement for Third Grade
Parental Involvement for Third Grade Reading is the following:
Communication:
- The third grade teachers will inform parents by e-mail addresses so that parent and teachers can keep in contact with each other.
- Weekly school bulletin with activities listed
- Monthly parent contact will be made
Learning at Home:
- Reading Logs will have an area for parent/teacher feedback regarding the student’s reading at school and at home.
- Student homework sent home
- Leveled readers sent home for extra practice
Parental Involvement for Third Grade Math is the following:
Communication:
- Third grade teachers will host a parent night where they will provide information about how to help students prepare for the math portion of the OCCT. They will inform parents of home activities.
- Third grade teachers will send home progress reports of student progression in math.
- Third grade teachers will communicate with parents at the beginning of each math topic to inform them of what objectives the students will be learning.
- Third grade teachers will make monthly contact with parents
Learning at home:
- Third grade teachers will send home daily/weekly homework, and parents are encouraged to work with the students to complete the math assignments.
- Parents are encouraged to help students with multiplication facts
Parental Involvement for Fourth Grade
Parental Involvement for Fourth Grade Reading is the following:
Communication:
- Fourth grade teachers will send home a weekly homework calendar with daily assignments
- Fourth grade teachers will send home quarterly progress reports
- Weekly school bulletin with activities listed
- Fourth grade teachers will make monthly parent contact
Learning at Home:
- Reading logs and spelling homework are sent home daily and/ or weekly
- Book projects are a part of each fourth grade student’s homework responsibility and parents are encouraged to assist their child with these projects.
Parental Involvement for Fourth Grade Math is the following:
Communication:
- Fourth grade teachers will send home progress reports.
- Fourth grade teachers will hold a parent meeting to inform parents about math goals.
- Fourth grade teachers will make monthly contact with parents
Learning at home:
- Fourth grade teachers will send home a weekly homework calendar with daily math assignments.
- Parents are encouraged to help students with multiplication and division facts
Parental Involvement for Fifth Grade
Parental Involvement for Fifth Grade Reading is the following:
Communication:
- Parent/ teacher meetings are held throughout the year to keep parents informed of any concerns or celebrations that their child may be involved in.
- Weekly school bulletin with activities listed
- Teachers may also communicate with parents through monthly e-mail messages or phone calls.
Learning at Home:
- Reading and spelling homework assignments or projects are sent home daily and/ or weekly, and parents are encouraged to assist their child/children with these assignments or projects.
- Parents are encouraged to assist their child with reading 1-2 hours a week as part of their reading progress.
Parental Involvement for Fifth Grade Math is the following:
Communication:
- Fifth grade teachers will send home weekly communication charts to keep parents informed about their child’s academic process and about their behavior. Parents are asked to sign and return it weekly.
- Parent/ teacher meetings will be held throughout the year to keep parents informed of any concerns or celebrations their child may be involved in.
- Teachers may contact parents by e-mail or phone calls on a monthly basis
Learning at home:
- Parents are encouraged to assist their child with daily and/or weekly math homework and assigned projects.
- Parents are encouraged to assist students with practicing multiplication and division facts.
Parental Involvement for Sixth Grade
Parental Involvement for Sixth Grade Reading is the following:
Communication:
- Teachers will send home quarterly progress reports.
- Teachers will make monthly parent contacts.
- Teachers will hold parent-teacher conferences in the fall and spring.
- Weekly school bulletin with activities listed
Learning at Home:
- Parents are encouraged to assist their child with reading 1 – 2 hours a week as part of their reading progress.
- Students will participate in completing Reading Logs to document books they have read during the school year.
District Involvement Information
District Involvement Information
- Stay Connected - TPS social media and smartphone app
- Tulsa Council of PTAs
- National PTA
- Booster Clubs/PTAs sanctioned organizations
- Parents as Teachers
- Student and Family Guide to Success (includes the Behavior Response Plan)
- Achieving. Classroom Excellence (ACE) Parental Curriculum Choice Letter
- Logrando la Excelencia en el Salón de Clases Carta hacia los Padres para la Selección de Currículo
- Parent Guide | Guía para Padres
- Parents Right To Know | El Derecho a Saber de los Padres
- Parent and Family Engagement Policy
- Educational Surrogate Parents Program
- All students need parental support to succeed. The Educational Surrogate Parents Program responds to the need for support and representation of students with disabilities whose parents are not available. This program relies on the commitment of volunteers who support a student's education by advocating for him/her to ensure that the student receives a free and appropriate public education.
Tips
Be Generous With Praise
Observe your child carefully and comment on the things that are done well. When you see an area that needs improvement, find a positive way to talk about it with your child.
Encourage "Personal Best"
Help your child by encouraging him or her to do the best in school and at home. Remember, "personal best" does not mean "perfect," and learning does not always mean getting high grades. Children, like adults, need the freedom to make mistakes and to learn from them.
Make Learning A Priority
Your attitude toward school attendance, education, and involvement in the school makes a strong and lasting impression on your child. By example, show your child that learning is a priority.
Show Interest In School Work
- Talk about school each day;
- Ask to see classwork;
- Have your child read aloud to you;
- Read to and with your child from a variety of material in your first language;
- Encourage your child to discuss new ideas and opinions;
- Show appreciation for good efforts;
- Offer suggestions for success; and
- Help your child use the following strategies to improve performance in school:
- Read the assignment when it is given.
- Keep a list of new vocabulary words.
- Proofread assignments to catch errors before writing a final draft.
- Review notes before a test.
- Schedule study time.
- Set up an area for homework away from noise and distractions.
- Post a family calendar that schedules school project deadlines, after-school activities, mid-term dates, exam periods, and report card dates.
Activities
- Help your child plan an activity to celebrate it with the entire family.
- Make tonight a 'No TV' night with your family. Ask your child to help select games or stories and spend some quality time with them.
- Help boost your child's self-esteem by taking pride in their achievements and accomplishments on a daily basis.
- Put on a history play with your child. Help them learn about important events in world history or even your own family history.
- Make learning to write letters and numbers fun for your child. Roll playdough or clay into long thin worms and ask them to create letters and numbers.
- Ask your child to help make lunch, then ask them to pick a spot in the park so that you can share lunch together.
- Take the family out to a water park. Help your child put on sunscreen and explain the importance of protecting their skin.
- Go to the park and take a nature hike with your child. Ask them to point out different animals and what they need to survive (i.e. food, shelter etc.).
- Prior to the first day of school each year, help your child make a 'countdown to school' calendar. Ask them to cross off each day at bedtime.
- Encourage your child to make a 'to do' list. Help them make a list of things that they would like to accomplish, then check the items once completed.
- To cool off on a hot day, visit a community pool with your child.
- Take your child shopping for school supplies. Ask them to brainstorm a list of things that they will need for school.
- Help your child make a kite. They can decorate it themselves and fly it at the park.
- Teach your child about recycling. Show them how to recycle items such as paper, glass, and aluminium.
- Take your child to a petting zoo. Later, ask them to draw pictures of the animals that they saw.
- Visit the library with your child often. Encourage them to borrow books about a different country to learn about the people, cultures, and customs of that country.
- On a rainy day, set up a tent with your child in the living room. They can pretend to be a forest ranger.
- Help your child practice their math skills by asking them to add up all the change in your pocket or purse.
- Teach your child about the importance of preserving nature. Help them plant a tree in your yard and explain how littering harms the environment.
- On a large piece of construction paper, help your child write their name vertically. Using each letter, help them write words that describe their personality.
- Make car trips fun for your child. Play a game and ask them to point out license plates, billboards, and interesting road signs.
- Tell your child that you love them today and every day.
- Help your child create and design their own phone book . Make a list of their friends names, addresses, and phone numbers.
- How much does your child know about their family history? On a map, trace where your family is from and help your child create a family tree.
- Help your child write a letter to a grandparent or friend. Explain the importance of keeping in touch with loved ones.
- To prepare for the first day of school each year, help your child get back in 'school mode'. Ask them to research a famous painter on the internet, then get out the paint and let them express themselves through art.
- Teach your child about textures - ask them to find objects outdoors that are smooth, shiny, slimy, or round.
- Suggest that your child write a poem for a friend, then have them mail it to their friend as a 'just because' gift.
- Encourage your child to make journal entries and keep track of their experiences each school year.
- Before school starts, host a back to school party for some of your child's friends.
- Help your child prepare for school and talk to them about setting personal goals this year.