Chapter 1: The 5Rs: Research-Based Strategies for Engaging Families in STEM Learning

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is not just about what students learn in the confines of their classrooms, but can also be a family affair. Over 50 years of research from fields including neuroscience, developmental psychology, and education confirm that when families are engaged in learning, children are more likely to succeed both academically and socially in school and beyond (Jeynes, 2012; Van Voorhis, Maier, Epstein, & Lloyd, 2013). Research also shows that family engagement efforts are most effective when they are systemic. This means that schools and communities go beyond random isolated acts of engaging families, and instead weave family engagement practices throughout an entire program and across learning settings—such as homes, afterschool programs, museums, and libraries (Weiss, Lopez, & Rosenberg, 2010). The purpose of this chapter is to provide a set of research-based processes that can guide educators in schools and informal learning settings to move family engagement in STEM from the periphery to the center. When implemented comprehensively, these processes are likely to pull families into STEM activities and to sustain their continued encouragement of their children’s interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.