| If connections between kindergartens and preschools are important, perhaps connections between schools and homes are even more so, especially because not every child attends preschool. The Goal 1 Ready Schools Resource Group suggests that schools should reach out to families well before children start school (NEGP, 1998b). Practices can include written or personal communications to parents about the school and steps they could be taking with their children, such as reading to them. Other options are home visits by teachers or principals or orientation sessions before the school year begins. It is recommended that practices should continue after school starts with family visits to schools, the solicitation of parent volunteers in classrooms and teacher visits to homes (Smolkin, 1999). When the connections between schools and homes are strong, parents know what their children are learning and can support the development of that new knowledge in their homes (Melton, Limber, & Teague, 1999). |
