Proactively building parent teacher communication can be a cornerstone of your success in building a strong classroom community.
Just as positive communication builds a thriving classroom, positive parent-teacher communication can have similar results.
I don’t know about you, but I have discussed my children’s teachers with others.
And I know that parents have talked about me. Kinder words are spoken by those who know you in a positive way.
I have met with more than a few parents who assumed their children were exhibiting poor behaviour at school. To tell the parents that their child was a delight to have in the classroom was a wonderful feeling. And often very humbling.
The power of those moments is not lost on me. Sometimes, through those conversations, the door opens for the parents to ask how to work with and teach their child.
And the notes of acknowledgement and gratitude from the parents provided some of the highlights from my teaching career.
What are the benefits of parent-teacher communication
When parent and teacher work together to support a student it is very effective. Similar to parents working together in the home. Behaviour, academic achievement and social skills are all improved with ongoing contact.
There were multiple times during both my time in learning support and in the classroom that the only way to keep a student progressing was through parent-teacher communication. Families differ in how they view the support. Some are teary eyed with gratitude. For another student the only reward that they want is to see mom smile, and for yet another the parents resent the communication. But it still worked.
How to start parent-teacher communication
Regular parent-teacher communication from the beginning of the year normalizes positive communication which can be an essential bridge to creating rapport for more challenging communication that needs to occur later. How we start can lay the groundwork for how we proceed.
At my school we sent out an email about a month prior to the beginning of school right after the announcement of class lists. Our email was to introduce ourselves, welcome the parents and the student, open the conversation, and provide a brief idea of what to look forward to at school that year.
I also sent home weekly newsletters with things like fun we were having, upcoming units and field trips, hot lunch days etc.
The primary team also used an app that no longer seems to exist, and I can’t recall the name of it. We would send home pictures throughout the day or week so parents could see their child at school.
And, of course, parent teacher conferences.🙃
Parent teacher communication tools
Fortunately these days we have so many options for communication. Weekly or monthly newsletters, classroom apps, emails, even social media platforms when used appropriately provide enough variety to engage all of the parents.
Creative parent-teacher communication strategies
Consider using an app that accepts videos and photos, or include these in your emails or newsletters. Parents may find that such interactive tools are more engaging and give them a greater sense of what is going on.
I loved sending parents a video of their child presenting their reader’s theater with their group, and the children were so delighted to be videoed.
One of the positive impacts of Covid at our school was that assemblies were livestreamed, recorded and sent to parents that could not come during the work day.
Traditional parent-teacher communication methods
As I mentioned above, parent-teacher conferences are still an important part of how we communicate with parents. Personally, I was typically more interested in hearing from the parents than reporting to the parents.
I found that this opportunity allowed me a chance to understand more about the parent-child relationship, which often provided me with useful insights.
Both face-to face and telephone contact are still very effective and important. We all know that written communication is easily misinterpreted, so these are very important. Using these methods can communicate sensitive issues in a way that is effective and relationship building.
Parent teacher daily communication log
Generalized positive parent-teacher communication is essential to establish and maintain that sense that the parents are a part of the community. However, there are times additional communication is necessary.
Daily communications may also be a good idea. In some classrooms a simple daily agenda communicating responsibilities is essential. The teacher can take an opportunity to write in the agenda a quick note for 2-3 students each day. This provides direct specific positive feedback to the parents, and an opportunity to effectively broaden the scope of positive communication.
Sometimes you will have a student who needs more detailed daily communication with parents in order for the student to get the academic and behavioural support they need. In those instances, a parent-teacher daily communication log may actually end up being less work and stress than trying to work with the child on your own.
How do teachers communicate with parents
Structured feedback that provides parents with a sense of direction for how to take action can be very helpful to both parents and students. In sensitive situations this feedback should be specific, timely and constructive to be effective.
How can parents communicate with teachers?
By initiating the idea of two-way communication, and welcoming parents in to talk, parents will feel that they have access to voice concerns and contribute to their child’s education.
I confess, this was not my greatest passion. But I did learn, over time, that a short conversation early on can prevent prolonged problems and challenging interactions.
Addressing challenges in parent-teacher communication
I have had parents who struggled to speak English, and during covid we ran into some technical difficulties. Patience, persistence and kindness are fantastic “tools” to pull out in these situations.
Learning to laugh, if appropriate, helps too! 😁
Parents are a Part of Your Classroom Community
Ensuring effective parent-teacher communication is foundational for a strong classroom community.
By using various tools and strategies to communicate, engagement is made easier, students get the support they need and the teacher is able to effectively build a collaborative and inclusive educational environment.
If you find it at all overwhelming, determine your first step and start there. I communicated in a variety of ways, but I was not using all of those methods from the beginning. I implemented them over time.
Parent-teacher communication will positively impact your classroom community and culture. Go for it. You’ve go this!
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