CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.6 Recommendations for further study: The focus group
It is recommended that teachers pursue the example set in the English literacy programme by implementing similar programmes in other learning areas. By bringing together smaller groups of parents, parent support groups could be formed to assist one another in different learning areas based on learner needs.
What is commendable of a focus group is the interaction between the researcher and the participants. The researcher selected a group of nine participants whom she thought were best equipped to discuss what was experienced during the intervention programme. It was evident that the participants shared certain characteristics that were relevant to this study, such as the importance of doing homework and eagerness to assist their children with homework. Through the focus group interview, the parents were allowed to express their views on the importance of homework and the vital part parents can play in it. In this way the researcher obtained responses from non-verbal cues such as facial expressions or body language. Consequently, this could be used to collect information to assemble qualitative data. Subsequently, parents indicated that they were willing to help their children, but that they found the standard of the work demanding. According to McMillan and Schumacher (2010:363), focus group interviews create a social environment in which groups are stimulated by one another’s perceptions and values. This method, according to them, also increases the quality and richness of the data.
5.7 Conclusion
Despite various challenges faced within the schooling system, this chapter highlighted key areas to serve as key recommendations, especially in structuring support mechanisms to parents to assist them in supporting their children’s academic endeavours. This study further emphasised the positive effect the intervention programme had on the home and school, parents and children, and on learners and teachers. This study opened channels of communication and intervention between parents and children and allowed the parents to assist their children in a structured way. The strategies of such an intervention programme
were specifically planned to create an opportunity for future collaboration between home and school. This resulted in a heightened awareness of societal needs, as well as benefitting learners’ academic achievements.
The strategies of the intervention programme were specifically planned to create an opportunity for further collaboration between home and school, and in that way build bridges not only between home and school, but also within the school community as such, as well as in societal cultural groups. This resulted in a win-win experience for all participants and stakeholders.
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Appendix E: Informed consent form
Informed Consent Form
Title of research proposal: An educator’s intervention to involve Grade 4 parents with English Literacy homework at a primary school.
My research questions are: 1. How can parents be supported to assist their children with English Literacy homework? 2. What strategies can be implemented to involve parents of Grade 4 learners with English Literacy homework?
I, Christabel Rooi, plan to do an Action Research Model at a primary school with the Grade 4 parents to inform the parents on how to assist their children with homework. These sessions will be held on a Saturday from February 2010 to June 2010.
I, ____________________________ the parent/legal guardian/family representative (Name of parent/guardian)
of _______________________________________ hereby give my consent that (Name of learner)
the data collected by Christabel Rooi may be used by her as part of her Master’s Degree.
Signature: ____________________________
Appendix F: Questionnaire for parents
This questionnaire is to be completed by the Grade 4 parents at the research site. The information that will be gathered from the questionnaires will be mainly used for research purposes. Information collected will be kept confidential. The parents’ contribution is therefore very important.
Guidelines
Please answer the following questions by ticking the box where applicable with a ( x ) that is true for you.
Please respond honestly and openly to these questions.
1). Does your child get homework on a regular basis? Daily
Daily in all Learning Areas
More than three (3) times per week in each Learning Area
2). Do you assist your child with the homework? Yes
No
Sometimes
____________________________________________________________ If no, why not? Provide reasons.
____________________________________________________________ 3). Do you understand the homework?
Yes
No
Sometimes
4). What is the nature of the homework that your child gets at school?
Activity sheets
Projects
Written Assignments
5). Do you sign the homework? Yes
No
Sometimes
6). Do you have a specific time when you sit with your child to assist him/her with the homework?
Yes
No
Sometimes
Give a reason for your choice_____________________________________
7). Do you liaise with the educator if you are uncertain about certain aspects of the homework?
Yes
No
Appendix G: Focus group interview questions
Focus group interview. The participants responded to the following questions. The information was kept confidential.
Question One
Does your child get literacy homework on a regular basis?
__________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Question Two
Do you assist your child with the homework?
__________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Question Three
What is your home language?
__________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Question four
Do you sign the homework?
__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Question five
Do you have a specific time when you assist your child with the homework?
__________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Question six
How did you find the homework sessions that we had on a Saturday?
__________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Question seven
How did your child respond to the sessions?
__________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
Appendix H: Contact numbers of respondents
Respondents
Contact Number
A.G.
021-7945190
T.J.083 6315561
N.G.074 7453387
G.J.021-7946186
N.B.021-7946186
S.A.021-7107306
A.J.073 9001417
N.M.021-7642100
C.L.078 4093689
M.S.021-7974186
M.C.021-7942923
H.R.073 8199895
P.K.021-7946500
A.P.084 2815447
T.N.072 8263364
M.G.021-7945188
M.D.083 5723703
M.N.076 9460271
M.C.078 4749486
S.J.021-7014771
K.L.073 2785724
A.W.078 8255561
T.W.021-7132222
A.M.076 3001483
J.J.071 9397609
S.F.021-7882020
E.S.073 3651641
N.J.073 3651641
E.D.021-7132211
M.I.021-7010543
B.M.074 3004739
B.M.