8 parent-teacher communication guidelines to try now

Recently, I spent Saturday morning with a friend in a cozy coffee shop. We sipped coffee and caught up. I drove home happy and thought back to our time together after saying our goodbyes. Even though the visit was short, I found that our conversation was a wonderful gift.

My thinking has changed about how parent-teacher communication. Framing conversations and time with others has been a gift. Parents and educators often lose important messages amid their busy lives. It’s not surprising that educators who attempt to meet parents at pick-up to talk about their child’s difficult day are often met with rushed or hurried responses.

I am a parent and educator and find myself constantly changing roles. It isn’t easy to make time for meaningful conversations between the tasks on my list. I’ve created communication guidelines that maximize every opportunity to talk with parents and teachers by changing my perspective and appreciating what I have.

Tips to improve parent-teacher communication

Every teacher knows that it’s essential to build relationships with students’ parents–communicating regularly, informing them of class policies, and scheduling appointments to discuss important matters. What steps can you take to improve communication with your class parents and dads beyond these general guidelines?

1. Talk to parents at drop-off and pick up. This helps build a relationship with parents before you go to formal meetings. This will allow you to have a conversation with your student’s parent when there is a problem. It also helps reduce tension and encourages collaboration. Be ready for your drop-off day to take advantage of the time with your parents. (School COVID-19 guidelines permitting).
2. Set up specific communication times with parents. Make it clear at the beginning of the school year that parents can expect communication during certain times. For example, every Monday evening or on the 15th of each calendar month. Parents are informed about upcoming activities, events, and assignments through class-wide updates. It also conveys your responsibility to the entire class. Parents can see the larger picture and realize that decisions will need to be made in the best interests of all students.
3. Get feedback from parents to improve your communication. Talk with parents to find the best communication method for them. Are newsletters effective? Handouts? Is it better to have a class website? Parents don’t need to communicate with each other in a customized way. Still, it makes dads and moms feel valued and helps you convey how important effective communication between parent and teacher is.
4. Provide parents with concrete, actionable solutions for the problems their children face. Parents can feel overwhelmed or helpless when their child struggles at school. Give them specific tasks to do at home to help the situation. Encourage parents to ask students to help them understand the story and make predictions. This creates an “in-it together” feeling between you and your child, and it shows that you are both partners in helping your children succeed.
5. Be positive. Make it a point to reach out to parents to acknowledge their child’s academic and social achievements in school. Positive reinforcement builds a bond with your parents and creates a balance for when you need to reach out with questions.
6. Describe the “why” behind instructional decisions. You’re the educator in your classroom and can make educated decisions based on many factors. Unprompted, share the thinking behind your decisions with your parents. This shows you are confident enough in your instructional method to discuss it with them openly. Parents can also ask questions about any misunderstandings. You can also avoid having unpleasant conversations where you feel you have to defend your teaching methods or yourself.
7. Be prepared for phone calls and in-person conversations. It is easy to get emotionally charged due to a variety of reasons. It is important to arrive prepared and keep the conversation evidence-based to focus on the problem and the appropriate support.
8. Evaluate the effectiveness of your communication. Could you take a look at how they work? Are your parents receiving the information they need? Are they having a conversation with you? Are they giving you what you want? Changes that reflect your knowledge about effective communication with parents are possible.

All adults involved in raising and educating children want the best. Parents and educators can have conflicting demands that can cause frustration and less-than-stellar communication despite sharing the same vision. You can avoid frustration by working with your parents to build strong relationships and help your students achieve their full potential.