Communicating with Parents

Communicating with parents is one of the most important things we do as teachers. When we can work together with a child's parents toward common goals, we improve the atmosphere for learning.

Phone calls

A group of first-year teachers was once asked how they made calls to parents. After a long pause, one teacher responded that after dialing she thought to herself, "Please don't answer, please don't answer." Phoning and confronting parents intimidated her. Make calling parents easier with the following suggestions.

1. Call parents early and often. Calling parents a few days before school starts is a good way to introduce yourself. Calling with good news early in the semester makes later calls easier to make.

2. Develop a checklist for your parent phone calls. Create a worksheet that you fill out ahead of time. This will help you to organize your thoughts. Include the following on your worksheet:

  • Identify yourself to a parent and find out with whom you are speaking.

  • State why you have called - to introduce yourself, to give good news, or to discuss a concern.

  • If you are calling with a problem or concern, state the problem clearly. State behaviors, not opinions. "John has not turned in the last three homework assignments" will be a more valuable statement than "John has become lazy about the class."

  • State a possible solution to the problem. Parents are busy people and want to know solutions.

  • Listen to parents for additional solutions and background. They have known this child longer than you have!

  • Find a diplomatic, yet assertive way to get off the phone. Example: "I appreciate your concern, and hope that you will make an appointment to meet with me during conference week. Right now, I have three other parents to call. Thanks so much for your help."

  • Let parents know when and how they can reach you.

  • Date and keep copies of your notes from telephone conversations. Some teachers write information on a note card during the call, then add the card to the student's file.

E-mail

Ask parents for e-mail addresses and if they want to communicate through e-mail. If that works for you and for them, it can be a great way to let them know about the little things. "Your daughter taught the whole class a math solution today."

Keep your e-mail communication short, clear and always invite face-to-face or telephone communication, especially if there is a more serious concern.

Written communication

Written communication can be less intimidating for you. That doesn't mean it ought to be used as a substitute for phone calls. Still, it can be quite effective for communicating on a regular basis. Teachers at an alternative school in Seattle hand-write a one-page "what we've been doing" note every week. The letter is copied for each parent in the class and sent home each Friday.

  • Make sure that every letter sent home is legible and contains correct spelling and grammar. Ask another teacher to proof it.
  • Announce the class calendar in your newsletters. Let parents know the dates for districtwide and statewide testing, as well as other important dates.
  • Tell parents what's up. Talk about what the kids are doing in class, what's expected at home, and how parents can support the work.
  • Keep copies of all correspondence sent home to parents.
  • If you want parents to respond, make a section for comments and explain how they can send it back with their student.

Adapted from Bright Ideas, an NEA Checklist Series publication