School to Home Communication Tips
Working together to ensure student success
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In the family/school partnership, everyone has important information to contribute.
The parents know a lot about their children, including:
- history
- interests, and
- what has worked or not worked in the past.
The teacher is a professional educator whose knowledge includes:
- strategies,
- school policies and procedures, and
- how students perform in the school setting.
Students are more likely to find academic and social success when families and educators work in together as partners.
The following are tips to support good communication between school and home.
Communicate Early in the School Year
Early communication helps teachers, parents, and students build positive relationships.
For parents: Communicate your hopes for your child, his/her strengths and special interests, and any insight you might have about how they learn best.
For school teams: Communicate school and classroom procedures and expectations.
Keep Reaching Out
Keep the lines of communication open and student-focused. Communicate the “Glows” and the “Grows.”
Listen
When people actively listen, everyone feels respected and heard. Then, important information can be shared.
This two-way communication paves the way for successful school-home collaboration. Respecting differing points of view does not have to mean agreeing. The aim is to find a way to move forward for the benefit of the student.
Practice Good Communication Habits
Communications should be delivered politely, professionally, concisely, and respectfully.
Use the "Communication Sandwich"
Always begin and end your communication (verbal or written) in a positive way. Cover the problem or difficulty in the middle.
Address Conflicts
Communicating early and often helps to avoid conflicts. But when a conflict does occur, school staff and parents should reach out to one another to address the issue right away.
Follow-through and Follow-up
During conversations, identify the person or people responsible for action items or tasks. Set a schedule to share updates on task progress.
