We all know the magic that happens when families and educators work together. But let’s be honest: Communicating with parents, especially when things get tough, can feel like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops.
Why Communicating with Parents is Key?
Empowering Progress
Parents are our partners, with a wealth of knowledge about their children. When communication between parents and teachers is effective, it empowers parents to be more actively involved in their child’s progress. This involvement can take many forms, such as monitoring homework, providing additional support at home, or participating in school activities. By keeping parents informed about their child’s strengths, areas for improvement, and progress over time, we empower parents to play an active role in their child’s educational journey.
Building Trust
Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship, including the one between parents and teachers. When communication is open, honest, and transparent, it builds trust between all parties involved. Parents must trust that we have their child’s best interests at heart and are working to support their success. Likewise, we must trust that parents are supportive partners in their child’s education. Through consistent and respectful communication, trust can be established and strengthened over time. When parents feel informed and involved, they become invested advocates for their child’s education.
Celebrating Success
Effective communication allows parents and teachers to celebrate the successes and achievements of students together. Whether it’s academic milestones, extracurricular accomplishments, or personal growth, sharing these moments of success helps reinforce a positive partnership between parents and teachers. Celebrating success also boosts students’ self-esteem and motivation, as they feel recognized and supported by their school and family. By acknowledging and celebrating achievements, parents and teachers can further cultivate a positive and supportive learning environment for students. Sharing even small victories with parents reinforces positive behaviors and keeps everyone motivated. Plus, their excitement is contagious!
Quick and Easy Communication Wins
Feeling overwhelmed? No worries! Here are some simple ways to keep the communication flowing:
Weekly Wins
Start a “Bright Spot” board where students highlight their achievements. Take pictures and share them with parents – it’s a guaranteed mood booster! Or if you don’t have the wall space, you can do Student of the Week. Each week, pick a student who has been working hard and leading by example and celebrate him or her. Rewards for this student might include a special desk, hat, or sash, certificates for free food, special supplies to use for the week, special treats, extra trips to the treasure box, Principal Recognition on the morning news show or in their newsletter to parents, etc.
Tech to the Rescue
Utilize communication apps or online platforms for quick updates, homework reminders, or even translated messages. Most of these types of apps are free and easy to use. My favorite is Class Dojo – you can quickly and easily send messages to all parents or individual parents. If you are like me and forget to send messages, you can schedule them to be sent and not have to stress about remembering to do so. Apps allow communicating with parents to be quick, easy and customizable.
Coffee Chats (Not Literally)
Schedule brief, informal parent meetings. This could be a quick chat before school or even a phone call during your planning period or after school. Make sure you document your efforts on a contact log. If coffee isn’t your thing, you may refer to it as a Pause & Plan – Pause to reflect and update parents on their child’s progress and discuss the Plan moving forward. No matter what you call it, make sure you take the time to have these meetings with parents. If meetings make you nervous, make a list of points to discuss beforehand. Bonus tip: ensure there are more positive things than negative.
The Power of Positive Notes
A handwritten (Sunshine) note highlighting a student’s effort or kindness goes a long way. These notes can be quickly and easily customized for student goals and classroom or school-wide expectations. Print them on different color paper if customized, write a few lines, and send them home. Take a picture (or make a copy) before sending it to document your efforts, especially if you have a student whose papers magically disappear on the way home. Parents love to see their child’s strengths celebrated!
Remember, communication is a two-way street. Encourage parents to share their concerns and ask questions. Listen actively and work together to find solutions.
You’ve Got This!
Effective communication with parents allows for collaboration in supporting a child’s development, academic progress, and overall well-being. Good communication also lets parents feel involved and empowered in their child’s education and life.
Building strong relationships with parents takes time and effort, but the rewards are endless. By embracing open communication, you’re not just creating a supportive network—you’re setting your students up for incredible success. Now, go conquer that communication mountain! You’ve got the tools (and the flip-flops) to reach the top.
