Overview
In this groundbreaking book, Justin Robbins and Karen Dempster offer a unique approach to the holy grail of parental engagement for the 21st century. Rather than setting it as a separate activity, they consider parental engagement as a planned, sustained and integral part of the whole-school approach: an approach which starts with the school vision and positions parents and schools equally as fundamental to student learning.
The authors describe the challenges of successful parental engagement encompassing both traditional approaches and the use of technology and examine these challenges through their four pillars model of knowledge, environment, culture and communication. They recognise that before any school can expect parental engagement as a 'given', there must be knowledge of the what, why, when, where and how concerning effective interaction and in this book they cover all bases, providing a toolkit of tried-and-tested approaches and strategies to choose from.
After all, the evidence shows that when families engage with the school's vision and provision, it is the children that ultimately benefit.
;Shares practical solutions relating to school-parent engagement and communication based on insights gathered from some of the hardest-to-reach parents.
;Parental engagement has to be one of the key drivers of success for any school and is so vital, on every level, yet there's surprisingly very little out there to actually help make it happen. In The Four Pillars of Parental Engagement, Robbins and Dempster have put together an interesting read that will make you reflect on your school's relationship with your pupils' parents, what works and why, and how we move forward in these changing times. It's a must-read for any senior leader.
Dave McPartlin
;There will be few teachers and school leaders who do not know the difference that parental engagement makes to both the school environment and the pupils themselves, but how to create a culture of parental engagement has often been shrouded in mystery and left up to luck. In The Four Pillars of Parental Engagement, Justin Robbins and Karen Dempster draw upon their own original research and the existing literature to demystify the parental engagement process. They give the reader clear actionable steps as well as an understanding of why these steps matter. I have no doubt that this book will be invaluable to any school seeking the next piece of the school improvement puzzle.
Mark Enser
;Drawing on the voices of parents, pupils and education professionals, this carefully researched book makes a significant contribution to the field of parental engagement. Framing their insights through the four pillars of knowledge, environment, culture and communication, the authors provide a purposeful and practical way for schools to strengthen this aspect of their work. Highly recommended.
Mary Myatt
;While we're aware that when home and school work as a team around the child, outcomes are improved - it can nevertheless be hard to know where to start. With their four pillars of parental engagement, the authors give us a framework to scaffold our thinking. They go on to walk us through how to develop and implement a plan, and provide a wide range of case studies and top tips to support its implementation. The Four Pillars of Parental Engagement is the perfect mix of theory and practice. If you've got parental engagement listed on your school improvement plan, this book will be a blessing.
Dr Pooky Knightsmith
;The Four Pillars of Parental Engagement is a fantastically useful book. The authors give advice to school leaders and teachers on auditing where they are now, building an effective plan and implementing it successfully. The book fizzes with practical advice, is packed with research findings and contains fascinating insights from wide-ranging case studies. It is a powerful manifesto for investing in building
While major retailers like Amazon may carry The Four Pillars of Parental Engagement (Empowering schools to connect better with parents and pupils), we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of The Four Pillars of Parental Engagement (Empowering schools to connect better with parents and pupils).