Teaching forces us to be a jack of all trades. Not only do we have to plan meaningful lessons, teach (as well as manage a classroom full of kids), and make sure to enrich or remediate to meet all of their needs, but we also have to build a rapport with our students’ parents. In fact, building strong relationships and creating a “let’s work together” feeling is vital for a successful school year. So, how do we strengthen those connections? I do it purposefully in these six ways:
1. Establish a Warm Relationship from the Start
2. Create a Weekly Newsletter
3. Communicate Issues as They Arise
4. Celebrate Accomplishments
5. Include Parents in Classroom Activities
6. Plan Some P.R. (Public Relations) Events
An Open House near the end of the year is another opportunity to show what your kids have done throughout the year. This is not a time to simply open your door and have the parents walk around type of event, but it is one that takes lots of planning and saving of student work so we can really show off our kids and the awesome things we’ve been doing throughout the year.
If you’ve taught any length of time, then you know that there are all sorts of parents, from the helicopter types who hover, to the overly ambitious, to the ones we wish would get more involved. But no matter what types of parents you are given to deal with, by establishing and nurturing positive relationships with them, we strengthen the very important home-school connection, and that’s good for everyone, especially for your students.
Thanks for sharing these awesome tips. Communicating with parents is such an important part of our job. These tips are sure to help.
Thanks! It is SO important.
Wow Jenn,
These are some valuable ideas! I have to say that celebrating accomplishments is one of the best ways that I was able to strengthened the parent-teacher connection! They love to hear the "good" that their children are doing in the classroom. So many times, (And I'm one of them), it is easy to forget. Telling parents when there is a problem, is easy because you want to fix it. I had to actually write reminders to myself at the beginning of each month to remember to look for amazing work or accomplishments to share with parents. They especially like the ones that just their child achieved. I would say something like, "Today, ___ was the best at ___. I am so impressed with his/her ____." Sometimes I would attach a pic and sometimes it was just a quick email. Last year, my students had emails so I cc'd them! Easy peasy! Thanks for all your great ideas! You always amaze me! Can I be in your class?
Pam
Rockin Resources Blog
It's so much easier to be proactive than reactive when it comes to parent relationships. These are great tips and ideas for teachers to build that important relationship. Thanks for sharing!