As we’ve seen in the previous section, supporting the learning process in the family environment on a regular basis is a key aspect in the education of our children. Given its importance, different methods and ways of doing it have been developed, from the traditional methods of passive participation, to the most innovative active participation.

According to Morrison, Storey and Zhang, this fact can occur in different levels, from a simple communication, to the complete collaboration:

1. Home educational environments.

2. Bidirectional-communication and exchange of information between school and home.

3. Volunteering: helping with planned activities inside and outside the classroom.

4. Kindred learning at home: parents must help children in learning at home.

5. Decision making: participation of parents in school decisions.

6. Collaborating with the use of school services, resources and participation in classroom helping children to learn.

These methods can help us to observe how there is an evolutionary line within the forms of family-school participation, that can be divided into two large groups, depending on whether it is a passive or active participation:

Passive Participation

• Communication at the beginning and at the end of the course: This process is merely communicative and has to be done at the beginning and at the end of the school year, but without physical presence in the centre.
• Communication throughout the course: A communicative feedback throughout the school year, but without physical presence in the center.
• Attendance at school meetings: Important communicative session throughout the school year, with physical presence at the center.

Active participation

• Going to the activities organized by the centre such as parties, meetings, conferences ...

• Participating in the activities organized by the center such as parties, meetings, conferences ...

• Attending the school activities at the center (interactive groups, dynamization, workshops, collaboration in the organization of activities ...)

• Taking part in the school activities at the center (interactive groups, dynamization, workshops, collaboration in the organization of activities ...)

It is important highlighting the need to move towards active participation methods, since these are the ones that really consolidate and build true family-school cooperation, because "[...] when parents participate actively in the school, the children increase their academic performance, and, in addition, the centre improves their educational quality." (Martínez González, 1992).