When families and educators partner from the first day of school, students show up more, learn more, and connect better.
Dr. Bill Datema
President, National PTA
In the classroom, teachers see our children’s strengths and where they may need support. They know what is expected of students at their grade level. Outside of the classroom, as parents and caregivers, we see what motivates and interests our children. We know if there are any barriers that may affect their ability to learn.
Families are a child’s first teachers and best advocates. When we work together with educators, we can develop a family-school partnership that is proven to result in better school attendance, improved learning, and stronger social skills. This partnership is critical from their first day of school to their last.
Here are four tips to help build strong family-school partnerships early in a child’s time in school.
1. Make a plan
At the beginning of each school year, discuss how you and your child’s teacher will communicate throughout the year, in frequency and in format. Establishing an ongoing dialogue about children’s progress and their overall well-being is essential to developing a healthy relationship and working together to support children’s success.
2. Listen and develop trust
Encourage your child’s teachers to reach out to you, and contact them whenever you have questions or concerns. Parents and teachers need to be able to have direct conversations about student performance. The most important thing is to stay connected and engage in open, two-way communication.
3. Individualize opportunities
Every child and family is unique, and ensuring a positive educational experience is a shared responsibility between families and educators. If your family is not available to attend school events or meetings in person, or if accommodations may be needed, see if a virtual option or support services are available. Providing more tailored experiences for families to be engaged based on their and their child’s needs is important to reach families in an inclusive way.
4. Get engaged
Getting engaged in your child’s school and with organizations such as PTA will help in building relationships by providing opportunities to visit the school often, connect with the community and other families, and discover how you can further support your child’s time in school.
A new school year means new opportunities to come together, learn, and grow. By engaging in open, ongoing, two-way communication from the start, families, teachers, and schools can better work together and support students’ success academically, socially, and emotionally.
