How to Communicate Effectively with Your Students' Parents
Communication is an extremely important aspect of the job description of a teacher. Teachers must not only be able to communicate well with their students and administrators, but must also be able to communicate well with the parents of their students. Parents are often interested in the education that their child is receiving and appreciate it when teachers use communication skills to keep them up to date on what is happening in their child's classroom.
Instructions
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Begin the year with an event to help you get to know your students' parents and let them get to know you. Send out invitations at least one month in advance and host the event in your classroom so that parents can get to know you in the environment in which their children will also get to know you. Introduce yourself to each parent at the event. Ask questions about their expectations and desires for their children's learning, as well as for how they wish to communicate with you.
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Set up a social networking site for your classroom and invite your students' parents to join the page and interact. You can post pictures and status updates every day letting parents know exactly what types of things their child is doing that day in class. Make sure to check with your school's social media policy to determine whether or not you can use social media as a tool in the classroom.
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Compose a weekly or monthly newsletter to send out to parents. The newsletter should include highlights from your classroom, as well as upcoming projects and assignments that parents can expect. Include a poll or survey in the newsletter where you ask for parent feedback on an issue you are currently debating. For example, if you can't decide which science project to complete for a foods unit, give parents four choices of your favorites and let them help you decide.
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Send home detailed instruction guides and contact information for each project you assign to a student, especially if your students are in a younger grade level where the parent is likely to help out with the project. This will help parents understand that you want them to be a part of their child's education.
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Communicate honestly and openly. Be polite and respectful when talking with parents about their children. If you need to let parents know about a problem you are experiencing with a student, do so in a way that does not make it seem like you are blaming the parent or child. Use concepts like "working together" to let parents know that you are taking responsibility for the well-being of the child as well.
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References
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
