"Welcome to our classroom!" Any inclusive and responsive teacher would love to say these words to parents. Researchers show that students are more likely to achieve academically and less likely to have behavioral issues, if the parents are involved in their educational process. In my class, I understand the importance of bridging the gap between home and school, especially between teacher and parents. The student, parent, teacher, and school all benefit from a positive parent-school communications. The way in which the teacher communicates and interacts with parents affects the extent and quality of parent involvement, student learning, and even student behavior (Guillaume, 2016). Teacher must create and maintain a three-way relationship …show more content…
First Day Program, phone communication, and internet-based communication are three ways to include parents (family) into the classroom. Parent contact should begin on the first day of school. The First Day programs is fabulous for connecting teacher and parents right from the beginning, when everyone has a clean slate, before the student is in trouble or any unpleasant phone calls have been made. Typically, most parents drop off their child at the bus stop or even drop their child off at the classroom door. Then the classroom doors close and the parents leave. One of the first ways to include parent in the class is on the first day of school, which is known as the First Day Holiday. This program was created by Terry Ehrich in 1999. President Bill Clinton awarded Mr. Ehrich with a Presidential Service Award for his First Day Foundation. As a teacher, I believe that the first contact with parents should be the first day of school …show more content…
The third communication method I utilize is the school 's website and email. At the school where I work, teachers use the school website that allows us to give families information about classroom activities, grades, and post items on the website (Guillaume, 2016). Other additional information is available to parents as listed: monthly calendars, newsletters, school handbook, homework assignments, photo, student progress information, teacher objectives, and many other things. Technology can play a major role in providing opportunities for improving the educational landscape and broaden communication options. One concern related to this website is ensuring password- protected and accessible only to the families of the students. The school staff and teachers have to keep the information on the school website current and accurate. Sending email to the parent about their children 's accomplishments helps to build confident and trusting relationship between the parents and the teacher. These types of positive spontaneous action create two-way conversations when the parents reply back to emails. However, emailing parents can be misinterpreted and impersonal way to convey challenges or problems that the child is facing. So, only send emails to share positive information about a particular child’s activities and accomplishments. Teachers that
Graham-Clay, S. (2005). Communicating with parents: Strategies for teachers. School Community Journal, 15(1), 117-129. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/195462342?accountid=34899
With the addition of globalization, the world has become a tech freak in communications via email and phones. Therefore as a paraprofessional, you will require three critically essential tasks as a good communicator. First, it is important to make phone calls to parents whenever the student is have a fantastic day, if you were to simply call just when there seemed to be behavioral problems. The students would practically face less consequences and the frequency of the unwanted behavior doesn’t change. Always communicate with the parents on good and bad days. Second, if a parent doesn’t respond to a phone call, at least leave a voice mail, and if that doesn’t seem to work, then start sending letter home. Multiple means of communication sets a good reputation of who you are. Also those messages are bound to reach the parents at some point. Third, when a parent is upset for some reason, make sure to give the proper space and communicate in manner that is always positive. A mad parent will talk negatively to other parents about you and that will give a bad impression of who you are. The three critical steps are the best style of keeping up with a positive communication with
Warren, Hong, Rubin and Uy (2009) encourage teachers to take a slow approach to engaging with parents/carers and do it in a more authentic way through meaningful conversations. Even a short, five-minute conversation can help “1. Make a personal connection 2. Share your hopes and concerns about the student 3. Leave a lasting impression” (Major, 2008, p. 318). Major (2008) offers another way to engage parents/carers, by holding a ‘gala’ night with awards, food and an exhibition of student work and including other classes or even the whole
Teachers have a significant role with the children; they are their leader in learning and development. Teachers have to plan effectively so the students will be able to learn and grow from the different activity’s this it why it is important that teacher take the responsibility and know the goals of the programs and their curriculum so they can plan accordingly. Establishing reciprocal relations with the parents of a child are important. Teacher should seek to know more about the families and their culture. With this information’s teachers are able to enhance the curriculum. Communication is the key when it comes to relationships with
Effective communication is the foundation to building a trusting partnership and serves as a first step to other types of parent involvement . Families who receive consistent information about their children 's school performance, have a higher degree of commitment to helping children improve .When families and schools are on the same page, they can have a more concrete discussion around student progress to establish realistic goals and plans to support student achievement . I strive to have frequent contact with all families and use flexible communication strategies through multiple channels including written and printed materials (e.g. personal notes, newsletters), telephone conversation, email exchange, social media (e.g. facebook, twitter) and face-to-face conferences depending on the nature of information and families’ preference. I intend on always making the most of drop-off and pick-up activities by sharing at least one specific information about a child to the family whenever possible. Mobile technology has become a primary way of communication and I plan on enhancing daily communication between home and school through a mobile...
...r child to these interventions and they could make sure to remind their children every day that they are important. Parents could also set up play dates or birthday parties that invite the whole class.
At this center, the teachers have the tools to assess each child and the parents are interested in knowing the strengths and supports their child needs. The article Understanding Families, states that there should be “opportunities for families to discuss their beliefs about their children, what they want for their children, and how they support their children’s development” (Christian, 7). As conferences occur every 6 months, parents also communicate with the school and teachers via email and during drop off and pick up times. Another great example of parent communication is in the article Building Bridges from School to Home.
This is when we need to step up and help the parent and the child so they don’t fall through the cracks of the education system. We need to increase parent involvement in each child education. Increasing parent involvement, begins with education the parents. Parents don’t realize or know how to get involved with their child’s education. There are many ways families can be involved in the education process. The parent is the child’s most valuable teacher for their whole life. The most benefit this will bring to the families is confidence. Teachers need to help the parents know that they can assist in their child’s education and can help them at home. There are workshops and training to help families get involved. The key is to offer incentives to the training to help increase the parent’s attendance, Communication is the one key with the parents. In today’s socially they are many ways to stay in contact with parents because of technology by email, text, or social media. Invite parent to come to the classroom and volunteer and see firsthand what a day look like for their child in the classroom. Have different events that will increase parents interest and eventually great participation. Another idea could be to send home activities that encourages family involvement. This can be activity that have the parents engage with each other and can be short and dynamic. The
A child’s first teacher is his or her mother and father. As a parent, involvement in the education process in the early years includes engaging the child through age appropriate games, regular reading, and simply interacting on a daily basis. A child that is engaged in this way are set up to develop into students who succeed academically. Once that child attends school, parental involvement shows that the parent places value on education. Furthermore, “staying connected to the classroom gives you ideas of how to expand what she learns at school,” (Driscoll & Nagel, 2010) thus providing parents with additional tools to implement in the home to continue the teaching process even after the school day has ended.
Teachers, parents, and the students all become better communicators when being involved in the process of inclusion into mainstream schooling. Teachers learn that communication can be key, while parents can alert teachers if their child is having a bad day. Due to the fact that the simplest things could affect the student drastically, the idea of open communication between teacher and parents is vital, since the parents will learn these tendencies before anyone else. Communication also works well the other way. If the student has a bad day a...
Wilson, G. (2011, March 1). Parental Engagement- Oxford School Improvement. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqxYooapk6k
Involving parents with school activities will benefit the school parent and the child. Teachers will have more help and will know the children closely if the parents are involved. Children feel happy and secure to see their parents around and it makes them confident too. We can start the involvement by inviting parents as volunteers for story reading and school outings. The importance of parental involvement is stressed in Lev Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory which states parents, caregivers, peers, and the culture at large were responsible for developing higher order functions. On the other hand, parents will also have a sense of inclusion in their child’s development process. Parents will share more family time and bonding with their young kids which supports the child’s psychological needs
Parent involvement is one of the most influential aspects of student motivation. The parents are the initial teachers of the child before the child goes to school and encounters education through a teacher. If a parent is completely engaged in the learning process with a child, there can be growth between the child and the parent simultaneously. The parents set an example for the child, so that the child understands that help is in the classroom and at home. Alma Wright, a first and second grade teacher, believes that parents in the classroom are a good way to stimulate children. She says, “Their active participation is a positive influence. The school is open for parents to share their talents and motivate their children” (Drew, Olds, and Olds, 1974, p. 71).
Parental involvement promotes the social growth of a child. Children whose parents are involved in their education have many advantages. They have better grades, test scores, long-term academic achievement, attitudes and behavior than those with disinterested mothers and fathers (Gestwicki, 2001). Parents becoming involved in their child's schooling creates extra sources of social constraint to influence the child's behavior (McNeal, 2001). For example, parents talking to their children and becoming involved in the school conveys a message to the child of education being important. Parents should be talking with your children's teacher and letting her know about your family. The more she knows about your child, the better she will be able to connect with your child.
I love the idea of having a private classroom blog. At the beginning of the year I would explain what the blog/website is, how the parents can access it, and ask permission to take and post the students pictures. I would love to use the blog as a way for the parents to see what we are working on each week; some examples of the students work, and have information on upcoming content and events. This would be an easy way parents could become involved in their child’s learning and see how much I care about their child’s success in my classroom. I also like the idea of inviting parents into the classroom to be a “special reader.” This gives the parents the opportunity to schedule a day to come spend in the classroom and read to the class. This would be a way I would like to reach out to parents and let them know they are welcomed in the class and how much the class would love it. My collaborative teacher in my kindergarten class has a great relationship with the parents of the children in her classroom. Therefore, I am getting to see how to build that relationship from day one of school and how beneficial it is to the student, parent, and