Ways For Teachers To Communicate With Parents
There are many options when it comes to communicating with the parents of your students. As a teacher, I use multiple avenues to maintain a strong home/school connection and ensure I am reaching out to everyone. I can assure you that you will undoubtedly feel the benefits when you have parents support and you are keeping them in the loop of their child’s education.
For the tech-savvy parents, I use the Class Dojo app. This doubles as a class management tool for positive reinforcement as well as a means of sharing students work, events and happenings in the classroom and around the school. Reminders can be sent, photos and videos shared and there is also a private message facility in which teachers can contact parents as well as receive messages from home. The Class Dojo app has been a massive hit with my parents for the past five years or more.
Take advantage of a class window or nearby outdoor wall and set it up as a noticeboard. Place any copies of any recent notes, bulletins, and permanent reminders such as sports day, library borrowing or students banking day. Place artwork facing out on window attached with Blu Tack (avoid sticky tape) so parents may enjoy their child’s artwork.
I expect that each school publishes a newsletter or bulletin either each week, every second week or at least once a term. If the school is up for it, this is an excellent opportunity to feature a class or stage and what they are currently learning. Parents look forward to photos and work samples and is also a sneaky way of encouraging them to read the newsletter. Newsletters do not always need to be printed these days; email is a great option too.
As a class teacher, for many years, I had an individual communication book or diary with each of my students family. Many teachers use this idea for just the ‘behaviour’ students however I prefer to use the communication book as a means to communicate with all parents with not only both positive and negative messages about their child but also providing a weekly overview each Monday of things happening in the classroom and at school, celebrate achievements and birthdays and notify them of our focus in literacy and numeracy for the week so they may follow up at home if parents wish. I also include weekly results such as their spelling test mark, maths challenge results, whether they returned homework and an update on the sight words list they are working on.
Most schools hold a ‘Meet The Teacher’ or ‘Parent Information Sessions’ early at the beginning of the school year. This is a great time to put faces to names. I especially love when both parents attend so they have a united front for their child but completely understand this is not always possible. I spend time introducing myself and my teaching style, routines and procedures, then cover learning outcomes for the year and expectations of students and how they could assist at home.
Another avenue for communication includes sending home an introduction letter – introduce yourself and what we are learning this year with information such as excursions, special dates, themes and topics, and library borrowing day. Provide your email address if this is an option, however, ensure you are clear with times when you will be checking and replying. You need to set up clear, healthy boundaries so to prevent any problems.
Something also that I feel works well for me is to enter the playground at least five minutes or more before the morning school bell goes. This way parents from my class can approach me about any concerns or questions they have. The last thing I want is parents asking to speak to me about their child as we are entering the room. Parents are welcome to attend my classroom before or after school though there are always the ones who won't leave and don’t get the hint, or they bring their delightful preschool-aged children with them who decide to pull all the toys off the shelf or mess up things you have set up for the morning session.
And of course, you have the good old phone call home. This is the last resort for me as between duties, meetings, and general teaching I rarely had time to make calls home. If it was relating to something significant, I organise for my office ladies to call the parents and make an appointment for them to come and see me before or after school.
Having an open and honest line of communication between teachers and parent should not be under-estimated. I like to treat it as a partnership. We are partners in their child’s education.
I also believe regular communication is appreciated. I am not an everyday feedback teacher (who has time for that?); however, I always ensure my parents are informed so there are no surprises when they receive their child’s half-yearly report. The effort that goes into maintaining this communication and relationship will pay off in the long run. I also ensure my communication is not always for negative reasons. I like to pass on praise and recognition for jobs well done which is just as important.
By ensuring you are informing your parents; they will feel more connected to their child's learning, will help to build the trust as their child’s teacher and may prevent you answering the same question several times over.
Can you suggest a method that works for you when communicating with parents? Let us know in the comment section below. We would love you to join the conversation.