4 Expert Tips: The School-Home Connection
What Parents Can Do to Achieve Success-boosting Parent-Teacher
Communication
By Maria Chesley
Fisk, PhD
Most students who do well in school have parents who hold high expectations
for school achievement and maintain a pro-academic atmosphere at home.
Connecting with what your child is learning at school helps you hold high,
realistic expectations and build on school learning during conversations and
activities at home. In short, we parents are far better equipped to help our
children be successful in school if we know what is being studied and how our
children are progressing. This is a big reason why communication with your
child’s teacher is so important.
Below are recommendations, gleaned from years as an
elementary teacher and parent, for promoting success-boosting communication
with your child’s teacher:
1. Share your goals for
your child’s learning and your hopes for parent-teacher communication.
When
parents and teachers communicate about kids' school lives and learning, each of
these influential adults gets a fuller picture of the child they are guiding.
They also get hints about how they can work together for the good of the child.
Share what you see as your child’s strengths (such as kindness and creative
problem-solving) and areas for growth (such as reading more advanced books or
completing homework independently). Share the goals you or your child have for
the year and talk about any the teacher recommends. As children get older, they
can participate and even lead this conversation. The first
parent-teacher-student conference can be a great time to discuss goals. It is
also a great time to ask how the teacher will keep you informed about topics of
study so you can be on the lookout for books, activities, and museum exhibits
you can pursue at home. Let the teacher know you talk about school with your
child and appreciate suggestions about what to talk about.
2. Nurture a positive,
open relationship with your child’s teachers.
The strength of
parent-teacher communication is tied to the quality of the relationships
involved. Nurture an honest, friendly and warm relationship with the
professional educators who have an important role in your child's life. Assume
good intentions and be thoughtful about teachers’ time and their need to divide
their care and focus among so many children. Smile and share positives. Did
your daughter really engage with that homework project? Did she talk up a storm
about that field trip? The teacher would love to know. And do your part to keep
the conversation going. For example, if the teacher suggested you try something
at home, take the lead and let her know what you did and how it is working.
3. Volunteer as you are
able.
Giving your time to school obviously helps the school, but very
importantly, it also shows your child that school is valuable to you. Many
schools offer a variety of opportunities so you can find one that fits your schedule:
bring in something from a wish list of materials, help in the classroom, or
prepare for a lesson or school activity at home.
4. Appreciate and
respond to routine and special communications.
Give some positive feedback
to those teachers, parent leaders and school administrators who keep you
informed about what's going on at school! ParentSquare, a private online
communication system for school and families, includes an "appreciate
button" so parents can very easily thank teachers and leaders for posting
messages. However you do it, people appreciate knowing that their messages
are read and that they influence what happens at home -- so be sure to let them
know!
You can, while encouraging appropriate independence, help
your child do well in school. Positive, learner-focused, productive
communication with your child’s teachers and school staff helps you support
your child’s success at school. Here’s to a great school year!
Maria Chesley Fisk,
Ph.D. is an educator with a passion for parent engagement and co-founder of
ParentSquare. ParentSquare is an easy-to-use, private online system
communication for school and families. Designed for the adults who are
important to students’ learning lives - parents, teachers, principals, staff
and parent leaders, ParentSquare provides news sharing, automated email alerts,
school and class directories and calendars, volunteer scheduling and wish
lists, and tools for committees and other groups at school. ParentSquare also
offers to be a revenue generator for schools through business listings by
parents and an online fund drive. For more, visit www.ParentSquare.com or email Maria.Fisk@ParentSquare.com.
This post is sponsored by Mommy Perks:
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