A network of supportive adults can make a huge difference in a student’s History Day experience. As a coordinator, you will encounter many parents and experience various styles, moods, and participation, from completely uninvolved to over-involved.
Meeting the needs of all these types of parents can be a reward or a challenge, so it's best to be prepared. Provide as much information to parents throughout the History Day process as possible. Clear and understandable information will facilitate smooth communication and decrease the potential for misunderstanding.
There are two levels of parent support that an Affiliate program can provide.
School-Level Resources/Information: Before the first level of Regional or District contest, most of the communication with parents is done through teachers. Consider creating a handout that teachers can give to parents of participating students early in the school year. An area of your website dedicated to parents may include the same resources you provide to teachers in the classroom in case a parent seeks out information on their own.
Contest Resources/Information: Once a student advances to the first level of Regional or District contest, their teacher may or may not actively manage the students' participation. Since these activities often occur outside the school day, parents will need more information directly from contest coordinators about the events, how to register, and what to expect.
Once registered, the zFairs Online Registration system allows you to communicate directly with parents. Before registration, ensure your website is prepared with accurate and timely contest information.
NHD Overview: How the program works, how it is structured, how many schools participate in your Affiliate, the annual theme, the categories, the rules, etc.
Event Overviews: The basics of competitions in your Affiliate (when, where, what time, how much are registration fees) and when/where they can find more information.
Benefits of Participation: For their children and for them.
Expectations of Students: Doing research, observing contest rules, and
Reasonable Adult Help: Parents who want to help their kids will benefit from knowing how to help appropriately, i.e., without violating contest rules. Explain the difference between reasonable help and doing the work for their child.
Affiliate Samples
Minnesota History Day: Parent Letter Series, translated into Hmong, Somali, and Spanish
Dates and Deadlines for Contests: Include the Regional, Affiliate, and National Contest dates and any information on advancement specific to your Affiliate.
Costs for Participation: Registration fees, travel, housing/meals, especially estimated costs for the National Contest, and whether you subsidize any fees.
How to Register: Instructions on how to register (e.g., how to use the zFairs registration system, how to submit projects, etc.)