Interactive homework to engage parents with students on the transition from middle to high school

Abstract

Middle grades teachers want early adolescents to take responsibility for their own learning and success in school. One way to encourage this is with interactive homework, which enables students to lead conversations with a parent or family partner about something interesting they are learning in class. An exploratory study tested whether eighth graders would talk with a parent about the transition to high school and about the roles parents may play to support student success in grade 9. Studies indicate that parents make the transition to high school with their students, but many are unsure of how to sustain age-appropriate engagement in their teen’s education. We found that students were able and willing to conduct discussions on four critical issues that determine success or failure in high school: attendance, course passing, GPA, and motivation to succeed. In written comments for each assignment, students were thoughtful and hopeful about entering grade 9 and graduating from high school on time. Parents were positive about their interactions with their early adolescents. Importantly, when parents enjoyed a conversation with their students, they were significantly more likely to say that they gained insights into the importance of on-going engagement in their student’s education in high school.

Keywords:

• Family engagement
• homework
• student-led conversations
• transition to high school

Notes

¹ In this article, the word “parent” refers to the family partner with whom the student discusses their views on the topics of TIPS-Transitions activities.

² Activities may be adapted or translated to meet school needs. A teacher should guide students to conduct the activities in the language of the home. Sections of activities may be shortened or extended. Middle grades teachers or counselors may create additional interactive homework assignments to prepare 8^th grade students for the transition to high school.

³ TIPS-Transitions activities and directions for teachers are available at no cost from the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University, at http://nnps.jhucsos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TIPS-Transitions-final-PACKET-2020.pdf.

⁴ This work was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305H150081 to Johns Hopkins University. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joyce L. Epstein

Joyce L. Epstein, Ph.D., is Director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships and Professor of Education at Johns Hopkins University. Email: [email protected]

Douglas J. Mac Iver

Douglas J. Mac Iver, Ph.D., is Co-Director of the Center for the Social Organization of Schools and Professor of Education at Johns Hopkins University. Email: [email protected]

Martha A. Mac Iver

Martha A. Mac Iver, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University. Email: [email protected]

Steven B. Sheldon

Steven B. Sheldon, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Education and Associate Director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University. Email: [email protected]