Graydonian Sentinel Vol. 8

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.