Tips to
Develop Positive Relationships With Parents
We often think we are doing a great job of communicating
if we "get the information out there" - but communication
needs to be two-way, or it’s not communication. Parents
are among our most important customers. When parents and educators
communicate effectively, positive relationships develop, problems
are more easily solved and students make greater progress.
Communication between home and school should be regular, two-way
and meaningful.
Listed below are some tips for establishing and maintaining
effective two-way communication and positive relationships
with parents:
1. Establish an open-door policy and mean it
2. Be pro-active in addressing concerns (you need to anticipate
concerns whenever possible to stay on top of potential issues)
3. Ask the school secretary and guidance counselor to keep
track of frequently asked questions/comments from parents
and address those items in your newsletter or at school meetings
4. Use E-mail and voice-mail effectively to facilitate two-way
communication (return messages promptly, even if it is only
to say you are gathering information and will get back to
them)
5. Teachers and other staff members should try to communicate
positive news about students to parents using notes, phone
calls, home visits or casual meetings.
6. Publish a school calendar of key dates that parents need
to know; the calendar could feature student photos or artwork
7. Create a welcome sign in every language spoken by students
and parents at your school
8. Arrange to have the school programs videotaped and make
the tape available in the school library (with busy schedules,
sometimes
parents can’t attend a school event or program)
9. Establish - through a student or PTA group - a welcome
wagon for parents new to the school
10. Share annual reports of school performance and program
information with parents at an open meeting to review current
progress and solicit input for future goals
11. Make your Web site two-way - provide an avenue for feedback
12. If you want parent input, schedule meetings at times convenient
for working parents; low-income parents may need childcare
or transportation in order to attend
Some parents will never come to school, no matter what you
try. Experts say if you can get a third of a school’s
parents involved, you can begin to make significant improvement
in student achievement. Keep in mind: what looks like apathy
on the part of parents, may be exhaustion. They can still
help by simply being supportive at home.
