As part of her dissertation research, Moriarty is testing a video training program she has designed to help parents of pre-kindergarten children establish good communication with their children's teachers during conferences. Moriarty needs about 80 parents of kindergartners to participate in the study. Her study will determine if her training program, which includes a video, a manual and parenting classes, gives parents more confidence in their human relations skills, and if parents develop favorable attitudes toward parent-teacher conferences. After her test results are in, Moriarty envisions a program in which parents who have learned the skills can train other parents. Her research adviser, KU professor Marvin Fine, says the big winner is the child.
Research shows that when parents are tuned in there are positive outcomes for everyone.
Even teachers feel more comfortable in their role when there is a positive collaborative relationship between parent and teacher. In middle and high school, parents are not as involved in some ways as in elementary school, but parents should stay involved. Her research will begin with mothers of children who will enter kindergarten in fall 2000 and who are the oldest child in the family. Eventually fathers will be included. Although many fathers are highly involved with their children, in the early years mothers often tend to be in jobs that allow them time to attend parent-teacher conferences, Moriarty said.