A good relationship with parents is essential to anexcellenteducation. Teachers and parents must work together to help kids reach their full potential. When parents feel connected and involved with their child’s education, they are more likely to support their child’s academic progress, behavior, and general well-being.
Parents benefit from effective parent-school communication. The level and parental involvement in their children’s education at home depends on how schools interact and communicate with parents. Keeping parents informed and involved can lead to improved academic achievement, more vital social skills, and fewer disruptive behaviors in children.
Here are seven practices teachers should do to get along well with parents:
- Communicate Regularly
- Build Trust
- Provide Positive Feedback
- Maintain Readily Available FAQs
- Record the Videos and Share them
- Keep an Open Mind
- Collaborate and Problem Solving
1. Communicate Regularly:
Figure 1-1: Communicate Regularly
Building a solid relationship with parents requires regular communication. Let parents know about their child’s growth and any problems. Whether through emails, phone calls, or parent-teacher conferences, regular contact lets parents know how their child is doing in school, what problems they’re having, and what they’ve done well.
When you talk to parents, make sure your words are clear and to the point. Use language that is easy to understand, and stay away from educational jargon. Give important information, like grades, test scores, behavior reports, and attendance records. Be transparent and open about your rules, policies, and standards.
2. Build Trust:
Figure 1-2: Trust Building
Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and the relationship between educators and parents is no exception. Be honest and transparent with parents, and keep any pledges or commitments you make. Parents are more inclined to listen to and follow your advice when they trust you.
Developingtrustrequires being reliable and consistent in both your speech and behavior. Respectful, non-judgmental, and non-confrontational behavior is necessary when speaking with parents. Demonstrate your concern for the education and welfare of their child.
3. Provide Positive Feedback:
Figure 2-1: Positive Feedback
Parents want to hear about the positive things their child is doing, so be sure to provide frequent positive feedback. Positive feedback helps build a good relationship with parents and encourages them to stay active in their child’s education.
When parents only hear bad news or hear about their kids’ bad behavior, it’s hard for them to see what’s good about their kids’ school experiences. So, it’s essential also to take the time to share the good news.
Here are a few encouraging notes you might send:
- When children engage in an unfamiliar activity or play with a child outside of their usual group.
- Assisting a classmate in solving a problem or finishing a task.
- These “firsts” and “wow” moments include tying shoes, zipping a coat, and other independent abilities.
- When parents only hear about bad behavior or events, they worry whenever they get a message. Balance the bad news with good news to give the parents a more accurate picture of their children growing up and build a betterrelationshipwith them.
4. Maintain Readily Available FAQs:
Figure 2-2: Maintain Readily Available FAQs
Providers sometimes have to spend a lot of time answering the same questions repeatedly. One of the ways to solve this problem is to have a list of questions that often ask about your routines and processes and what you expect from them. You can keep these online or print them out and put them where parents can see them.
You will spend less time reviewing minute details when parents can discover the answers, giving you more time for deeper communication.
5. Record the Videos and Share them:
Figure 3-1: Record Videos and Share them
Videos are a fun way to get information across. Videos are better than writing because parents can see your face and hear your voice. You can create videos for numerous purposes.
- Introducing a new lesson, unit, or idea and explaining it.
- Reminding parents of things that are coming up.
- Reviewing something that has already been done.
- Sharing things like music and books.
But remember that video gives information should be 3 minutes at maximum. Parents may only want to watch the video if it is shorter. Also, kids and their parents can watch shorter video clips together.
Always keep in mind thatcommunicationshould be inclusive and accessible to all. Speak slowly so that parents can understand you. You should also send a transcript for parents who prefer reading or want word translation.
Tell the kids you sent a video home for their parents to watch if you want to ensure they do. When their kids ask to watch a movie with them, parents are more likely to do so.
6. Keep an Open Mind:
Figure 3-2: Keep an Open Mind
When working with parents, it is essential to maintain an open mind because every family has its distinct dynamics. Keep an open mind and accommodate parents from all walks of life and cultures. Try adjusting to parents from all walks of life and cultures. Make an effort to create an atmosphere that is friendly and inclusive for all families.
To keep an open mind, you must know your ideas and biases. Try not to make assumptions based on generalizations or stereotypes. Learn about different customs and beliefs from other cultures and use them in your teaching.
7. Collaborate and Problem-Solve:
Figure 4-1: Collaborate and Problem Solve
A common error teachers make is not communicating enough or only reaching out when there is a problem. When problems develop, work with parents to identify solutions that benefit the student. Collaborate on ideas and be open to comments andsuggestionsfrom parents. You can establish a beneficial learning environment for the learner by working together.
Recognizing that parents are partners in their child’s education is part of the collaboration. Involve parents in decision-making processes and solicit their feedback on matters concerning their child.
Final Thoughts:
Successful education depends on open communication between teachers and parents. Establishing a fruitful relationship with the student’s parents enables the educator to develop a supportive and productive learning environment to the student’s advantage. It is essential to remember that parents are equal participants in their children’s education, and only through concerted effort can they ensure that every pupil realizes their full potential. Stay safe and learn more about health-related continuing education, eetsonline.com.