Shannon+Week+9

What is the need for a Virtual World Parent Center?


 * Twenty-four seven parenting: Our parents work crazy hours, are going to school, and have several family commitments. It is difficult for them to come into the school.
 * Information overload: We are constantly sending home information on how to help their students learn. This information is coming from different teachers and is often set down and forgotten. Parents also may be busy and do not get a chance to check back packs every night.
 * Difficult Assignments: The assignments that students bring home may be difficult for the parents to help with.
 * ELL: Parents that are second language learners may need more time to process information and feel uncomfortable in the school.

Meeting these needs:


 * A Virtual World Parent Center would be available around the clock for parents. They could access information and write questions on list serves within the World to get answers. There work schedule and commitments would not interfere with finding information. They could sit in the comfort of their home and browse the resources.
 * Teachers can post important information and reminders in World. Information could be uploaded so that parents could find important announcements, permission slips, homework, and much more. This would keep the information organized and readily available.
 * There will be links to homework help sites within the internet. Parents will be able to find resources that will help their children solve homework problems.
 * ELL: Parents can take their time and process the information presented. They can look over information so that they know what to ask the teacher. As much as possible, information will be available in multiple languages. There will be links to translation sites to help aide parents.

The goal of the school and the requirements of the State are to have parents as active members of our community. We usually see the same parents at the school on a regular basis. This is fantastic and we want to continue to see these parents, but past attempts at getting the parents we don't see in the school there have been unsuccessful. The goal and hope of a Virtual Parent Center is that we will be able to reach the parents that seem to be out of our grasp. A Virtual World may be the opportunity that we need to establish stronger ties with our parents and to build a stronger community.