School offers 'family time' during school hours

it can be difficult for parents to keep on top of what their children are doing, especially when ...  More »

it can be difficult for parents to keep on top of what their children are doing, especially when those parents work at night. a clovis elementary school is trying to help those families by encouraging family time during the school day. joe bartels visited cameo elementary where they have transformed one of their classrooms, into a living room... joe? educators say the lack of parent involvement is one of the biggest issues they face when teaching children. but now-- cameo elementary is trying to solve that problem by inviting parents to spend time with their kids during school hours. "i like to come in and spend time with my children, to help out in the classroom." a new room and a new program inside cameo elementary school is helping jonella bocanegra connect with her kids. "sometimes when we are at home it's chaotic. i'm trying to attend to all three kids at the same time. this way i can grab one of my children and say, lets read a book, tell me what's going on at school." the school's parents' center was created as place for parents who may work after school to come in and be actively involved with their child's learning-- something the principal says is very beneficial. "it's definitely important, you've seen and heard the research that more parent involvement, the greater student achievement is... so that's our hope." complete with some of the comforts of home-- the kids can read books with their parents-- or share with them what is going on at school. "it allows you to have more one on one time with each child, opposed to trying to put dinner on the table and everything else that comes along with the evening." so far-- dozens of parents have taken advantage of the room and are excited to be able to spend quality time with their kids at school. school officials say the program's increasing popularity has other clovis school considering similar plans  « Less