Interactive homework to engage parents with students on the transition from middle to high school

Abstract Middle grades teachers want early adolescents to take responsibility for their own learning and success in school. One way to encourage this is with interactive homework, which enables students to lead conversations with a parent or family partner about something interesting they are learning in class. An exploratory study tested whether eighth graders would talk with a parent about the transition to high school and about the roles parents may play to support student success in grade 9. Studies indicate that parents make the transition to high school with their students, but many are unsure of how to sustain age-appropriate engagement in their teen’s education. We found that students were able and willing to conduct discussions on four critical issues that determine success or failure in high school: attendance, course passing, GPA, and motivation to succeed. In written comments for each assignment, students were thoughtful and hopeful about entering grade 9 and graduating from high school on time. Parents were positive about their interactions with their early adolescents. Importantly, when parents enjoyed a conversation with their students, they were significantly more likely to say that they gained insights into the importance of on-going engagement in their student’s education in high school.