This family event allowed parents into the classroom, offering them another connection point with their student. Parents and guardians sat in on class, learning about the structure, procedures, and curriculum their students experience every day.
Dean of K-2 Kayla Schlese helped organize the event, sharing that she thought the event would help parents understand how their child is learning.
“Through some conversations we were having, it was clear parents didn’t know what our instruction looked like,” Schlese said. “A lot of them thought about a more traditional school day where you sit and listen to a lecture, and that’s not the way we teach our kids. I thought it would be helpful to open the building and let parents experience what their kids do.”
With a priority on intervention, Detroit Enterprise is preparing students through small group lessons and tailored instruction. This front row seat at the school day gave parents a better understanding of their student and helped parent partnerships bloom.
Life at DEA started with a parent meeting, where each participant was provided a packet of study materials tailored to their student’s needs. With this connection point and resources to help prepare their child, parents are better equipped to help their student succeed.
Schlese said parent interaction with students was not the only way students felt supported during Life at DEA.
“This event not only helped strengthen parent-student relationships but also showed students positive parent-teacher relationships,” Schlese said. “Sometimes there can be a disconnect for the student, but when they see the parents and teachers as a united front on the same page, that helps with their confidence. It shows we are on the same accord when it comes to your education.”
Life at DEA opened with breakfast in the gym for parents, mirroring the experience their students have each day. From the gym to the classroom, parents put themselves in their students’ shoes.
The turnout was exceptional, with about 60 parents attending class alongside their child. Thanks to over a month of marketing the event to parents, the turnout dramatically improved, making Life at DEA one of the school’s most popular events this year.
Schlese said she looks forward to planning more events like Life at DEA and making connections with her school community.
“I think it was a very important to solidify that connection with the community and show them we are here to support them and their student,” Schlese said. “It showed parents a lot and everyone seemed to enjoy it.”
About Detroit Enterprise Academy
Detroit Enterprise Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Detroit, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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