Reaching Every Parent Where They Are: Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Communication is critical to any healthy relationship, which is undoubtedly true for schools, students, and parents. It’s no secret that students benefit in several ways when schools make an effort to foster healthy, strong relationships with families.
Why is parent communication important? Studies suggest that parental involvement contributes to academic and social gains.
Higher grades and test scores
Better attendance and participation
Decreased behavioral problems in the classroom.
However, parent-teacher communication can often be challenging. Some of the most significant barriers to productive parent-teacher communication include trouble getting to the school site, challenging work schedules, lack of appropriate translation services, and overuse of communication for fundraising requests.
So, how do we communicate effectively and ensure parents get the information they need? Since there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, the answer lies in using multiple platforms.
Here are some best practices when it comes to effective parent-teacher communication.
Ask
It seems simple enough, but by establishing solid relationships and clear lines of communication at the beginning of the school year, a strong foundation will be set for parent-teacher interactions. However, not all families communicate the same way, so ask them for their preferred contact mode and make a plan together.
Asking families for their preferred contact mode ensures essential information gets to them; this can be done at “Meet the Teacher” or “Back to School Night.” Teachers can make an introductory phone call or email if the parents don’t show up. An introduction is also a great time to learn what languages are spoken at home.
Get Social
Consider utilizing social media and creating a classroom Facebook or Instagram page. Of course, permission will be needed to do this, and the account must be set to private. Social media is an effective way to post photos of what the students are doing, as well as reminders about school work or projects that are up and coming. If social media isn’t for you, email a monthly blog celebrating student successes and giving parents a preview of upcoming curriculum and events. These ideas keep families in the loop and are positive forms of communication for parents.
Real-Time Tech Tools
Platforms like Seesaw and ClassDojo allow students to share their learning with their parents directly through the app and make real-time updates easier. Additionally, communication apps such as Remind or School Status keep a daily, open line of communication open between teachers and parents, allowing them to message them when needed.
Close the Gap
Parents sometimes don’t receive information from their child’s school in the language they speak at home. Teachers can use tech tools like Google Translate, ClassDojo, or the Remind app to translate communications and reduce language barriers as schools become increasingly linguistically diverse.
Reach Every Parent Where They Are
Parents have varied work and home demands, and with that comes diverse schedules. School participation looks different in each household, and it’s important to offer different communication platforms so every parent has the opportunity to be informed. Providing pathways for entry into a child’s classroom, both physically and digitally, through effective communication is key to effective parent-teacher communication and overall student success.
Written By: Meredith Biesinger
Professional Writer/ Education Specialist
Meredith Biesinger is a licensed dyslexia therapist in Mississippi, in addition to being an experienced classroom teacher and K-12 administrator. Meredith also works as a consultant, where she bridges the bridge the gap between K-12 school districts and ed-tech organizations. With a passion for literacy, she is also a professional writer and syndicated author. With a M.Ed in Educational Leadership and a B.S. in English Education and Creative Writing, she has had rich and diverse opportunities to teach students and education professionals in different parts of the country as well as overseas.
Interested in learning more about the education market, or looking to contribute? We want to hear from you!
