As a secondary teacher, I find it hard to build parent-teacher communication. However, I also recognize that it’s so important for caregivers to be involved in their student’s education to see success. Parent-teacher communication has been something I focus on quite a bit and over the past several years of teaching, I wanted to share my methods that I’ve had success with!
On the opposite side, I’ve done an interview with Reframe Parenting about how parents can collaborate with teachers to have conversations about their student! If you’re a parent, feel free to check it out!
1. Monthly newsletters
One of my favorite ways to increase parent-teacher communication is to send home monthly newsletters. I prefer to send them through email, but you could also have students take them as well! Within a monthly newsletter, I make sure to provide 4 main sections: important dates, reminders, contact information, and our monthly focus.
With the important dates, not only do I focus on test or project dates in my class, but I also will include any days off or events offered by our school district (such as the parenting trainings we have monthly!).
Reminders is often a spot where I remind caregivers about checking grades, paying for fees (such as AP exam fees), and if there is anything important for them to complete – like signing up for conferences!
The monthly focus section typically explains what the unit is that we are doing for that month and if there’s any novels we are reading. With my digital planner, I am able to plan out each month, so I will typically know important dates and what the focus is at the beginning of the month, so I can send these newsletters out!
My contact information is always the same – my email. I like to provide it on the newsletters, so if parents or caregivers have questions or concerns, they can reach out super quick!
2. Weekly progress reports
Another great way to increase parent-teacher communication is to send weekly progress reports. Our grading system in our district allows for progress reports to be set up to email however often you like!
I personally do weekly, as I aim to grade things within a week of them being turned in. (That excludes tests and essays though.) If you’d like to read more about how I manage grading, check out my post with 8 ways to manage grading!
I also choose to have the reports go out on Thursdays, so students and caregivers can reach out that Friday to clarify any issues or answer questions.
This establishes that you want to communicate and are willing to have conversations with parents and family, plus opens up the opportunity for them to reach out – which can be intimidating for a parent! This gets it started for them!
3. Positive emails/calls/postcards home
Something I always love is positive contacts home. Taking the time at the end of the week to contact home for a positive contact for one or two students a class period is something that fills my bucket.
Phone calls are great because usually parents associate phone calls home as bad. But this switched it up! Or you can always email if you need something quicker. Or postcards are cute, as I always imagine the family putting it on display on the fridge to celebrate <3
4. Student of the Month
Along the same wavelength of positive contacts Home is selecting a Student of the Month. At our school, each teacher selects 2 students each month, who then get certificates made for them and we post them outside of our classroom doors. Whenever I select a student, I make sure to email home to increase parent-teacher communication and celebrate their student!
