The most important aspect of any school community’s success is transparent and insightful communication between parents and teachers. Parents and teachers working together to create a harmonious learning environment for students is the key to ensuring a balanced and rich educational experience. However, it is difficult to establish and maintain strong parent-teacher relations in today’s society.
Parents and teachers communicating at a school assembly (Image Source: Google)
This blog will provide some helpful insights on how to foster parent-teacher relationships that can improve student achievement and growth.
What do you mean by parent-teacher communication, and why is it important?
Communication between a teacher and a family is based on an intentional, ongoing exchange of information. This involves sharing details about learning progress, education approach, classroom events, and how to foster good adaptive learning at home. This process has a deeper impact than a parent-teacher meeting and involves open communication, respect, and collaboration between both parties.
Top Benefits of Parent-Teacher Communication
Communication between parents and educators should be open, honest and effective.
For Teachers
- Learn about the student’s home life and their learning style.
- Families should be encouraged to communicate with their children about classroom goals.
- It will help you to solve problems more collaboratively.
Parent-teacher communication to students and parents. (Image source: Google)
For Students
- Feel more motivated and supported
- Consistency between school and home
- Improved academic performance and social skills
For Parents
- Keep informed about your child’s growth
- Take the time to read through your curriculum.
- You must be fully empowered to meet your child’s expectations.
What can it do for each of them?
Relationships between parents and teachers act as a link between school and home, bringing unique benefits to both:
Teachers
Improved Class Management: Teachers who understand the struggles children face at home are better able to deal with their behaviour in classrooms.
Customised Instruction Parental input is useful to implement pedagogy which meets the individual learning needs of every student.
Support for Classroom Goals: Parents should support the goals of the classroom to ensure that learning is consistent at home.
Students
- Confidence Boost: Students who are aware that teachers and parents communicate well will feel more secure and valued.
- Academic Consistency Coordinating efforts between home and school can improve the performance and concentration of students.
- Emotional well-being: An integrated support system can reduce anxiety and promote a sense of stability.
Parents
- Active Communication Creates Many Chances: Participation increases.
- Parents should be actively involved in school decisions and activities.
- Making Well-Informed Choices: Parents who are better informed about what is expected of them academically can make better decisions.
- Early intervention: Early identification and early intervention of issues will ensure timely support and solutions.
What are some tips that you can use to improve communication?
There are several proven ways to improve communication between parents and teachers.
- Engage Early: Begin discussions at the start of the academic calendar year before any issues or concerns arise.
- Use Diverse Channels Emails and applications, newsletters, phone communications, face-to-face meetings, and telephone communications all serve different purposes.
- Be Consistent: Plan regular updates, not only during the time of the report card or mark sheet display.
- Adopting a Positive Attitude and a Constructive Attitude Examine and identify areas for improvement and work to achieve them.
- Active listening: Listen carefully to your parents to ensure that they are heard.
- Encourage two-way communication: Do not rely on one-way communication, but rather anticipate and ask for input and assistance.
- Share small victories with others: Spread the joy of sharing wins.
Why are strong school partnerships important for student success?
The development of students is enhanced by good school partnerships that are based on communication between parents and teachers. Why are they important?
Strong school partnerships improving student development (Image Source: Image Bazar)
- Improved Academic Performance: When parents and teachers share expectations and plans with students, they do better.
- Early intervention: Establish strong partnerships to enable us to act quickly to deal with current and future learning or behaviour difficulties.
- Student Engagement Increased: When parents are active, children are more likely to enjoy school and stay active for longer periods.
- Improved Social Skills: Effective coordination between home and school leads to honest and respectful behaviour from pupils.
- Improved school culture: A close-knit social structure based on communication and trust is the basis of a good cultural school.
- Shared responsibility: Students learn best when both teachers and parents show a shared commitment to their learning and welfare.
Conclusion: Building stronger school partnerships through parent-teacher communication
Fostering a strong parent-teacher relationship takes effort and collaboration, but it is worth the effort. Through open, honest, and continuous communication, teachers and parents can form a successful and powerful alliance. These unions are necessary not only for student success and integration but also for a healthy school community.
Read our blog about Improve Your Child’s Public Speaking Skills. It is full of practical tips that will help your child to become a confident communicator at home and school.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. How often should teachers communicate with parents about their students?
It may be enough to maintain communication with a brief report every few weeks or a follow-up each month.
Q2. Q2.
Try different communication methods to remain consistent. Demonstrate the ability to adapt, be flexible and empathise over time. A personal call or a face-to-face meeting can sometimes help to reestablish contact.
Q3. Q3. How can communication be affected by cultural differences?
Indeed. Respect and cultural sensitivity can enhance communication. Schools should remove all language barriers and provide translated materials when needed.
Q4. Q4. What is one benefit that parents and teachers often overlook?
Strong relationships can help students learn to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts. They can also help them learn the importance of respect and collaboration.
Q5. Q5. How can teachers in the new generation improve communication between parents and teachers?
Teachers of the new generation should begin by being proactive and approachable. Teachers should be positive and transparent and document all communications. This builds trust and confidence over time.
