TH E GRAYD O N IAN
SEN TIN EL Vol. #8
TEACHERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS‌ School Community
BUSINESS STUDIES FILED TRIP TO THE CENTRAL BANK OF BARBADOS
The Business Studies class visited the Central Bank of Barbados last week. The students interacted with the legal tender of the country and participated in a very interesting and interactive session. Looks like we have some budding financial professionals in our mist.
Engaging our students is a vital part of what we do as teachers; however, we cannot do it on our own. We need to embrace fully, the partnership with the other stakeholders on this education journey, especially the parents of our students. Once our students feel supported at home, their enthusiasm for learning ought to soar.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS The last OCTOBER born. Andrew Wharton 31st October
November, here we come. Kimel Griffith 2nd November
Cheryl Greenidge 2nd November
Enjoy your birthday celebrations guys!
THURSDAY
NOTICES BSL Athletics training session – 3:00p.m. at the Garrison Savannah. FRIDAY
MONDAY The Duke of Edinburgh Awards club meets today. Come, join and be inspired. Reminder: All Submission of CXC May/June 2019 entries to HODs. The deadline has now passed.
The funeral for the mother of Vernell Woods, Former staff member and current Deputy Principal (Ag.) of The St. Michael School will take place today. The service for Mrs. Louise Adamson nee Edwards better known as “Gerdeen” Will commence at 1:00 p.m. at the Faith Wesleyan Holiness Church in Jackmans St. Michael. The internment will be at the St. Joseph Parish Church, Horse Hill, St. Joseph.
Mid-Term Reports to be printed today.
TUESDAY BSL Athletics training session – 3:00p.m. at the Garrison Savannah. WEDNESDAY
End of Week 8. Have a GREAT WEEKEND.
Tips for fostering stronger teacherparent communication
“For the student, a strong relationship between the home and the school means a stronger education, given that the people who work with him and see him daily are on the same page, collaborating for better
It’s no secret that a child’s education can be greatly
solutions to solve any learning or behavior issues that
enhanced when there is a strong relationship between
arise.”
the teacher and parents or caregivers. In fact, a
While much has been made of the need for teachers to
growing body of research has shown that when
foster healthy relationships with the parents of their
teachers and parents work together as partners,
students, you may be thinking that it’s easier said than
children tend to earn higher grades, attend school
done. When school days are filled with grading
more regularly, and stay in school longer. Studies
assignments, lesson planning, and managing a
have also confirmed that strong parent-teacher
classroom, it can be a challenge to prioritize reaching
partnerships foster higher educational aspirations and
out and forming connections with parents and
give rise to more motivated students (Barton, 2003).
caregivers. On top of all that, there are no hard and
Outside of the research world, many educators themselves have favourable perspectives in regard to parental involvement. In a recent Twitter poll, for instance, more than 97 percent of educators in the Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) community believed the establishment of healthy communication between parents and teachers was “extremely important” to student achievement.
fast rules for how to effectively communicate with parents. When’s the right time to talk and when isn’t it? What should information parents know and what’s too in the weeds? To help, the TpT research and editorial staff drew on the expertise of our community and put together some strategies for building and maintaining parent-teacher relationships. This piece will guide teachers on how to foster positive partnerships with parents, how they can measure the
The reason for this is simple: parent involvement is
success of their efforts, and how school administrators
worth the effort. When strong relationships are formed
can provide their support.
and fostered, everyone in the school benefits — not only the child, but also the parents and teachers (Eldridge, 2001). For TpT, Teacher-Author Keri
Fostering positive relationships with
Brown, having a strong relationship with parents
parents and caregivers
opens up the opportunity for her to have honest and candid conversations with them about their child’s learning and development. “If the relationship isn’t
A good parent-teacher relationship is much more than
the most positive, parents don’t want to hear anything
just giving a status report about a child’s academic
that I have to say about their child,” says Keri. “But if
performance or behaviour in class. Ideally, it’s a
the relationship has always been positive, parents will
partnership that provides a two-way flow of
be open to doing and trying out what I’ve suggested to
information about a child’s achievements and social-
help their child.” In terms of the benefits for students,
emotional development both in the classroom and at
TpT Teacher-Author Christine from Autism
home. The five tips we’ve outlined below can help
Classroom Resources believes that healthy parent-
educators start their relationship-building efforts with
teacher relationships result in a more cohesive
parents on the right foot.
approach to students’ education.
1. Involve parents in classroom activities.
Let parents know what’s happening in the classroom
Many parents want to help teachers out, but don’t
— that is, what students are learning, what they’ve
know how — especially when their children are older.
accomplished, what they’re excited about, and any
Teachers should let families or caregivers know how
growth that’s occurring. Teachers can also suggest
they can be helpful and can ask for their assistance
things that parents might ask their child about: “Ask
with specific activities. For example, if a parent has
them to tell you about what they learned last week
skills or knowledge that connects to your curriculum,
about fractions,” or “Ask them to read you the essay
ask she or he to come in and speak to it. The more
they wrote for social studies.”
involved parents are in what goes on in the classroom, the more likely they are to understand the teacher’s goals and practices.
TpT Teacher-Author Tip “Whether it’s a weekly email with activities or things to follow up for during the week or a newsletter sent
| Sample Action: Open your door to parents.
home, parents appreciate knowing what is going on in the classroom. If you work with students with
At the beginning of the year, make it clear to parents
special needs, more regular communication may be
that you want to partner with them and encourage
needed. You can streamline this process through a
them to participate. Invite them to share input, give
daily checkoff note with a brief comment about the
them information to help them form opinions, and
day that you sign off. Although it may seem like
listen to their feedback.
some parents never look at these notes, the majority
TpT Teacher-Author Tip “Invite parents to the school. If you’re not
of them will find them helpful and appreciate the time it takes.” — Christine from Autism Classroom Resources
comfortable with asking them to help to do something in the classroom, lunch is a great place to start. Parents will be able to sit with their child, but they also will be able to chat with you briefly without the idea of having to talk about academics or behavior for a change.” — Keri Brown 2. Establish a regular system of communication. Open, clear, and timely communication between parents and teachers is the key to building a positive relationship. Frequent, two-way communication
3. Keep all communications simple and to the point. As TpT Teacher-Author Jackie from The Template Teacher points out, “Parents are extremely busy and don’t have time to look through a bunch of papers.” Before reaching out to parents, be sure to organize your thoughts, and review written messages. She advises teachers to keep it short and sweet: “Most communications I send to parents are information and updates that are bulleted and concise.”
allows parents to stay apprised of what and how their child is learning, and allows parents to give teachers updates on the child’s academic and social-emotional development. As TpT Teacher-Author Kristin from School And The City notes: “Consistency allows parents to know what to expect. That way, they never feel disconnected.” | Sample Action: Provide weekly updates about what’s going on in the classroom.
| Sample Action: Try to avoid teacher-speak. When communicating with family members, it’s important to create an environment in which parents can feel free to share information, ask questions, and make recommendations — and that all starts with making the conversation about their child’s academic progress accessible to them. Be careful not to make
Be careful not to make assumptions about a family
While this can seem daunting, especially with a large
member’s level of knowledge, understanding, or
class, demonstrating care for a student through a
interest. Take the time to help them learn about the
positive note or phone call home doesn’t have to be
education system if they’re not familiar with it or to
complicated. Paper templates can make this task fast
understand what you’re doing and why in terms of
and practical. And positive comments can be as
instructional decisions.
simple as “Maya was an excellent problem-solver
TpT Teacher-Author Tip
during math today” to “Jamal was very helpful during clean-up.”
“Don’t make parents feel inferior or helpless by
TpT Teacher-Author Tip
throwing around vocabulary used around school. Acronyms are a great example of this, and even
“Call home or send notes home with positive
language like ‘fluency’ and ‘formative assessment’
comments at the start of the year. The earlier, the
are often meaningless to parents. Make it parent-
better! This way parents know that you care about
friendly and use examples and charts to illustrate your
their child and LIKE their child. A parent who
points.” — Kady from Teacher Trap
knows you are on their child’s side will be much
4. Inform parents of the good — and do it often.
they know that you care about their child.” — Maribel from Learning in Wonderland
Positivity goes a long way toward building productive
5. Provide ways that parents can support their child at home.
relationships with families and to. As TpT Teacher-
more willing to listen and work with you because
Author Michaela of Especially Education explains, “Positive notes and phone calls let the parents know
The more teachers encourage parents in their roles as
you are on their child’s team — their biggest
the primary educators and role models, the more the
cheerleader in the classroom.” In every conversation
child will benefit (and the more fruitful classroom
you have with a parent (even when discussing a
learning will become). To help, teachers can offer
concern or negative situation), be sure to share
suggestions for carrying over concepts from the
something positive about their child to show that you
classroom to the home: “You can help your child with
genuinely care.
her science homework by asking her to explain how she got an answer,” or “As you’re reading stories at night, ask your child to predict what will happen next to help strengthen his reading comprehension.” In addition, teachers can suggest books to be read at home, provide resources to help with studying, and recommend activities that can be done over the weekend. TpT Teacher-Author Tip
| Sample Action: Make a positive phone call or send a positive note home.
“Make sure your communication is valuable. For example, if you are giving parents a heads up about a test, make sure to provide them with links to
resources they can use. Anticipate their questions
“We have a system at our school where if you fill out
and provide thorough answers.” — Kristin from School And The City
a positive referral, the child gets to go to the office
Gauging the success of relationship-building efforts
these phone calls and they are so meaningful for the
and the principal calls home! Parents are thrilled with kids!” For Kady of Teacher Trap, her administrator
Of the many experts in the TpT community that we
gives teachers at their school the time and the tools to
talked to, one thing on this point was certain: success
facilitate these relationships. “My administrators are
looks different across every parent-teacher
passionate about offering excellent ‘customer service’
relationship. They did provide some examples of what
and making sure parents felt welcomed, respected, and
success might look like in its various forms. “Some
valued. We were given a full workday to hold parent
parents are easier to get along with so success could
conferences, allowing for longer, more relaxed
mean having them sign the agenda each night,”
meetings. We were also given the freedom to use any
says Keri Brown. “For others, it could be getting them
type of communication platform (such as Facebook
to answer the phone each time you call.” When it
Group, Seesaw, Class Dojo, Remind App, etc.).”
comes to collecting feedback, Kady from Teacher
Both parents and teachers play a vital role in
Trap takes to a survey to help measure success. “My
influencing students. Though it may seem challenging
goal is for parents to feel that I am their child’s
to find the time, energy, or skills to build trusting
biggest champion and that they feel safe contacting
relationships with your student’s parents or caregivers,
me about any concern,” she explains. “I send out a
it is well worth the effort.
survey around the middle of the year to check on how the parent is feeling things are going. Hearing that positive feedback lets me know that I am on the right
TpT Resources
track.” Here are a few resources to help these relationships flourish: What administrators can do to help
B2S: Rules, parent letter (Eng & Spanish), student inventory, and MORE!
Character Education Parent Letters Bundle
Daily Parent Communication Logs
Positive Communication Notes / Parent Communication Notes
Parent Communication and Positive Notes Home
Parent Communication Notes for Elementary Special Education: Editable Included
Reading Level Guide: Parent’s Handbook for Levelled Books English & Spanish BUNDLE
Though the relationship between administrators and parents is more distant than the relationship between teacher and parents, administrators who embrace the opportunity to support teachers in these efforts (and build relationships themselves) will find it to be a worthwhile investment. There are plenty of actions that administrators can take today to foster healthy, productive relationships between the school and parents. For a few real-life examples, we turned to some of our Teacher-Authors and asked them to tell us how their administrators have supported parentteacher relationship building in the past. Maribel from Learning in Wonderland told us that her administrator helps out with making positive phone calls home. students. Though it may seem challenging to find the
Extracted from:
Summary [Parent Helpers]
Further Reading List Want to dive deeper into this topic? Here’s a curated reading list of the sources that we cited and referred to while writing this piece.
Aguilar, E. (2011) “20 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships With Parents.” Edutopia.
Barton, P. E. (2003). Parsing the Achievement Gap: Baselines for Tracking Progress. Princeton, NJ: Policy Information Report, Educational Testing Service.
Eldridge, D. (2001). Parent involvement: it’s worth the effort. Young Children, 56 (4), 659.
Loughran, S. B. (2008). “The Importance Of Teacher/Parent Partnerships: Preparing PreService And In-Service Teachers.” Journal of College Teaching & Learning (TLC), 5(8).
Stoltzfus, K. (2017). “Improving ParentTeacher Relationships Can Help Students Succeed, Study Finds.” EdWeek.
Sheridan, S. M. (2018). “Establishing Healthy Parent-Teacher Relationships for Early Learning Success.” Early Learning Network.
Extract taken from: https://blog.teacherspayteachers.com/tips-forfostering-stronger-teacher-parent-communication/
Article recommended by the Principal,
Ms. Beverley Y. Bancroft.