INVOLVING PARENTS TO

HELP STUDENTS MEET

BENCHMARKS
JULIE CHONG
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY

PROBLEM STATEMENT
District requires all third grade to pass 0-5s
multiplication tables.

Students had to meet benchmark by

December 15, 2015.

15 out of 25 students (60%) have not met

the benchmarks.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

How can parental involvement through a smartphone application (Remind app) influence the
number of students passing the 0-5s
multiplication tables?

How can parental involvement through parentteacher communication worksheet influence the
number of students passing the 0-5s
multiplication tables?

How do students perceive their parents

involvement?

SITE PROFILE

Willman Elementary in Lakewood, CA.

Third grade class

A large population of Hispanic students

90.7% of families are socioeconomically

disadvantaged

Implemented Swun Math curriculum

15 lessons, 2 methods of multiplication

METHODOLOGY
Action research design

Qualitative

Representative, Informal Interviews

Quantitative

Technology-Remind application

Parent-Teacher communication sheet

LITERATURE REVIEW
Parental Involvement
The key component in building meaningful
relationships is consistent communication between
teachers and parents (Lindberg, 2014; Sawyer, 2015;
Shepard & Rose, 1995; Washington, 2011).
Language barriers discourage parents to be involved
in their childs academics (Olmstead, 2013; Pena,
2001; Shah, 2009)
Autonomy is the best support a parent can provide.
(Gonida & Cortina, 2014).

INTERVENTION

Implemented two methods for two weeks

Technology: Remind application (02/10)

Parent-teacher communication sheet (2/29)

TECHNOLOGY:
REMIND APPLICATION

Remind: a texting
application without
exchanging information

Used to remind parents

of homework and
practicing the
multiplication table

PARENT-TEACHER
COMMUNICATION SHEET

Parent-teacher
communication sheet: a
checklist of
responsibilities that
should be completed
daily

Used as a tangible
reminder for homework,
but mainly for
practicing the
multiplication

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS

Interview (Representative and Informal):

Students will be informally interviewed for
their perception of their parents involvement.
Two students whose families signed up for the
Remind application were selected.

Record chart: The record chart keeps track of

students passing the multiplication table.

Multiplication
Table
Name

6-9s Benchmark

0-5s Benchmark

DATA COLLECTION

Remind application:

5 families out of 25
signed up for
Remind

All actively use it.

Parent-teacher
communication
sheet:

Circled all the same

choices.

DATA ANALYSIS

Pros

3 more students met

the benchmarks (20%
increase)

Students aware of
their progress

A motivational factor

DATA ANALYSIS

Cons

Possibility of discouraging some students

Took 35 days for 3 students to meet

benchmark

RECOMMENDATION AND
IMPLICATIONS

Remind application and the parent-teacher

communication sheet are still beneficial for
the classroom.

Language barriers may have intimidated

parents.

Chart is beneficial to keep progress in class,

but for effort purposes.

REFLECTION

Limited time and resources

Reframing interview questions

Constant communication with master teacher

for advices and observations

Ask more students

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