Enhancing effort and achievement: the importance of parent involvement and home-school partnerships

Abstract

Although prior ability and achievement are often found to be the best predictors of subsequent achievement (Reynolds & Walberg, 1992) research has also demonstrated that motivational factors have important influences on student learning (Wang, Haertel & Walberg, 1993). The way a student accepts the school and its role in society determines the effort that the student is willing to put into schoolwork. But why do some students accept the school and its role in society, and are willing to put effort into schoolwork and others do not? Schools, teachers and peers can be important facilitators (Opdenakker, 2004).