By Joe Donovan, The Donovan Group
Most parents see their children daily. Most teachers see their students daily. And yet, parents and teachers rarely see each other at all.
Both have a thorough understanding of each student. They know the students’ interests, strengths, weaknesses and behavioral patterns. Parents and teachers hold valuable insights that can take a child’s learning and development to new heights. The trick is deciding who will break the ice first.
Teachers, don’t be afraid to reach out! A strong and steady relationship with the parent ultimately leads to better outcomes for the student.
Why nurture parent-teacher relationships?
Parent-teacher relationships are essential for student success. By working together, parents and educators can inspire academic achievement and personal growth in their students, both at school and at home.
Here are the key benefits of nurturing these relationships:
- Improved student performance: Open lines of communication allow parents and teachers to share their experiences with the students and identify ways to effectively motivate them. This will help students continue to learn—not reluctantly, but willingly.
- Clear expectations for the school year: Regular communication helps set expectations, as well as monitor a student’s progress toward those expectations. It ensures that concerns—whether academic, behavioral or social—are addressed promptly, preventing issues from escalating and promoting a proactive (rather than reactive) approach to student development.
- More parent volunteers: Parents who feel connected to their child’s education are more likely to volunteer, attend school events and join decision-making committees. In turn, parent participation strengthens the school community and encourages others to get involved.
- Better behavior and social skills: Parents might see behaviors that the teachers don’t see and vice versa. Bringing both perspectives together helps parents and teachers address ongoing behavioral challenges and develop students’ social skills.
- Tailored support for students: Collaborating with parents helps teachers better understand each student’s unique needs. Every student differs in their strengths and learning obstacles. This insight allows teachers to provide more tailored instruction and support.
- Stronger trust and collaboration: Trust between parents and teachers is essential for working through difficult situations, such as academic struggles or behavioral concerns. A strong relationship makes it easier to navigate these challenges in a way that benefits the student.
The connection between school and home goes far beyond making sure students get good grades. Building and maintaining parent-teacher relationships creates a united front that supports each student’s success, both academically and personally.
Potential points of discussion with parents
When engaging with parents, it’s important to focus on key areas that impact a student’s overall development. Open, honest discussions about academic progress, behavioral patterns and social interactions ensure that every student receives the guidance they need to succeed.
Parent-teacher communication should address these main focal points:
Grades and academic progress
It’s important to provide parents with clear insights into how their child is performing—not only in terms of grades, but also in overall growth and learning habits. Teachers should highlight both strengths and areas for improvement, then collaborate with parents to create a plan moving forward.
During these discussions, remember that student success is a team effort. Teachers can share tips on how to inspire learning at home, and parents can share tips for effectively managing behavior at school.
Behavior in the classroom
Addressing student behavior is essential for healthy social and emotional development. When discussing behavior, try to focus on patterns rather than isolated incidents. That way, parents have a broader understanding of how their child interacts with peers and responds to the teacher’s instructions. Remember to recognize and celebrate positive behavior, too!
If a student exhibits behavioral issues, parents and teachers can come up with strategies to support positive behavior both at home and in school. By working together, teachers and parents can instill a sense of responsibility and respect in their students.
Social skills and peer interactions
Parents want to know how their students interact with other students. Discussing social interactions with parents offers insight into how their children navigate friendships, group work and problem solving in a classroom environment. Teachers should highlight both positive interactions and areas for growth.
If challenges crop up, both parties can brainstorm strategies for making friends and getting along with classmates. By aligning efforts at home and school, parents and teachers can support the child in developing essential skills like empathy, cooperation and effective communication.
Additional support services
Sometimes, students need extra help to succeed academically, socially and emotionally. Make sure parents are aware of resources like tutoring, counseling, teachers’ aides and special education programs. Frame these services as a positive step in the right direction.
Also, make sure parents understand how to access these resources. This makes it more likely that they will seek out the extra support their students need.
Strategies to bridge the communication gap
Regular communication is essential, yet often challenging. With busy schedules on both sides, it’s easy for communication to take a back seat. The following strategies can help bridge these gaps, so that parents stay informed about and engaged in their child’s education.
- Use multiple channels. Parents have different preferences for communication—some may prefer email, while others respond better to phone calls, text messages or even parent-teacher apps. Offer a variety of communication methods, so that parents can talk to teachers in a way that works best for them. As a result, parents and teachers will touch base with each other more often.
- Share changes and events. Establish a routine for sharing general information with parents, whether that’s through monthly newsletters or weekly emails that highlight classroom activities, field trips or upcoming exams. Regular updates can save parents from last-minute surprises or misunderstandings!
- Create an open-door policy. Encourage parents to communicate openly by fostering a welcoming environment where they feel comfortable reaching out. Let parents know that their questions and concerns are valued at any time, not just during scheduled conferences. Teachers shouldn’t always have to initiate a conversation; parents should be free to initiate, too.
- Get the most out of conferences. Make parent-teachers conferences meaningful by creating a two-way dialogue. Parents should feel like equal partners in the discussion, with space to share their perspectives while learning about their child’s academic and behavioral progress.
- Provide language support. For non-English-speaking parents, language barriers can be a significant hurdle. Offer translation services and interpreters for meetings and written communications to help these parents fully engage in their children’s school experience.
- Leverage technology. Online portals and parent-teacher apps provide real-time updates on grades, assignments, announcements and incidents that might occur. These tools make it easier for parents to stay informed and connected, even with busy schedules.
By integrating these strategies, teachers can foster stronger, more consistent communication with parents, building a foundation of trust and collaboration that supports student success.
Parents are waiting for you to reach out
While communication is a two-way street, teachers can get the ball rolling by being the first ones to strike up a conversation. Parents might not know how to contact teachers, and in some cases, they might not try to reach out at all. Something as simple as a phone call shows that you care about the students’ academic and overall success!