Empathy is critical in any program for disadvantaged parents. Yet many parents who will not volunteer in the schools or are unavailable during school hours will take time to help their children learn, particularly if they can do so at home. There are specific programs for such parents, such as Reading Is Fundamental and Family Math, which starts with parent-child workshops. Other districts devise their own home-study curricula, often consisting of one weekly activity. The TIPS program calls for parents to help their children with math and science homework and to make presentations in social studies classrooms.
Most parents require some sort of training before using such curricula.
Staff can use P.T.A. meetings, open houses, or special meetings to discuss the programs and how to teach them. Less formal programs are more easily implemented. Teacher-parent conferences are ideal opportunities for suggesting and explaining simple home study activities. Teachers can follow up such conversations by sending home notes and photocopied materials. Innovative and energetic teachers find ways to involve parents in education.