Doing what matters most: How parents can help their children succeed at school

We reviewed thirty years of research from Canada, the United States and England. Our findings show that the kind of involvement that makes the biggest difference to students’ chances for success in school isn’t what most parents might expect.

What kind of parent involvement really makes a difference?
- having high expectations
- talking about school
- focusing on work habits and attitudes more than marks
- reading together

Unfortunately, many Ontario students report their parents aren’t doing the things that really make a difference. For instance, less than half of students in grade 3 report they talk to a parent or guardian “every day or almost every day” about their school activities. And only a third of principals report they are successful at helping all parents understand the learning goals for their school.