.png)
As an educator, building a relationship with your student's parents is beneficial. Research shows that students perform better when their parents are involved with their education. When a relationship is built with your student’s parents you can openly communicate the student’s strengths and areas of growth. You can also directly communicate with the parent to help support the student beyond your classroom. This includes eliminating and increasing behaviors, extra academic or social support, and overall improved relationships between teacher-child-parent dyads. Though this relationship may not develop with each parent, it does not hurt to attempt to build a relationship with your student’s parents in the long run.
You may have an upward amount of 10-15 students per class and might find it challenging to build relationships with all of these parents. The goal isn't to be superman or (woman), but to do the best that you can.
Here are some easy ways in which you can begin to build a relationship with your parents:
Introductory phone calls and emails before the semester starts
Sending welcome letters that require signature home
Parent newsletter
Semesterly open houses
Teacher Instagram/ TikTok (if comfortable)
Teacher Website (If comfortable)
Using appropriate and concise language when speaking with parents
Creating parent “office hours” which will allow for the opportunity for parents to contact you openly and freely
Create an environment where all parents can come together in community with you
Now that you have opened the door to a relationship, here are some things to remember:
Communication and language are powerful.
Listen to parents' concerns.
Remember to share positive news and observations as well as not-so-good ones.
Hard conversations may occur, but remember that all parties involved are human.
Every family has its own family culture, and views on education/ teaching. Also remember that if there are behaviors, their origins may come from a deeper-rooted issue.
Never make assumptions.
Share your educational plan and be as open as possible.
It is okay to have concerns but always check your biases and prejudices.
It is okay to consult with other colleagues about how to handle a situation.
Provide as many resources as you can, but if you can't, don't be afraid to refer out.
All in all, building relationships with parents may be a challenge, but it is in the student’s best interest. For more resources on how to build a relationship with your student’s parents, check out these websites below:
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-tips-developing-positive-relationships-parents-elena-aguilar
Comments