Developing positive relationships between teachers and parents can have immense benefits for students. When teachers and parents communicate effectively and work together, students feel more supported and are likely to be more successful academically and emotionally. Here are some tips for teachers on building strong connections with parents.
Reader's Roadmap
Communicate Regularly
Set up systems for regular communication with parents. This could involve sending weekly emails, newsletters, or using apps that allow messaging between teachers and parents. Let parents know the best way to contact you too. Provide positive feedback about their child as well as raising any concerns. Parents want to hear about what their child is doing well in addition to areas they may be struggling. Be responsive in your communications. Reply to emails and messages from parents in a timely manner, even if it’s just a quick acknowledgement at first. Parents appreciate knowing you received their message.
Offer Opportunities to Connect
Offer opportunities for parents to connect with you and get involved. Hold “Meet the Teacher” nights or open houses early in the year so parents can put a face to a name and learn about classroom rules, routines and expectations. Invite parents to volunteer, assist on field trips or help out in the classroom if possible. This gives them a glimpse into their child’s school day. Organise events like family reading nights or maths game nights where parents and kids can engage in academic activities together.
Accommodate Busy Schedules
Try to accommodate parents’ busy and varying schedules. Offer flexible times to meet in person before, during or after school hours. Understand that some parents may not be available during typical school hours for work or other reasons. For parents who can’t meet in person, provide phone or video conferencing options at a variety of times.
Consider Diverse Family Structures
Recognise and be inclusive of diverse family structures. Some children may be raised by grandparents, foster carer, same-sex parents or other non-traditional family structures. Use inclusive language on forms and when addressing families. Don’t make assumptions about who will be attending events or meetings. Allow children to invite any important caregivers in their lives. If you reach out to a carer fostering in Dundee, be sensitive to their circumstances. Focus on working together to provide stability, care and academic support for the child.
Maintain Sensitivity
Remember to maintain sensitivity when discussing sensitive topics with parents. Approach conversations about disciplinary concerns or learning challenges carefully, focusing on solutions. Respect families’ privacy by being thoughtful about how and where you discuss a child’s behaviour or performance with parents. If language is a barrier, provide interpreters or use translation apps as needed. Don’t rely solely on the child or other family members to translate important dialogues.
Building strong teacher-parent partnerships requires effort and intention, but it has so many payoffs for your students. Focus on open communication, opportunities to connect in person, accommodating busy schedules and maintaining sensitivity to all family structures. If both teachers and parents make the relationship a priority, it will translate into meaningful benefits for children’s learning and well-being.