High parent participation has been shown to be a key component in the performance of schools and can even aid in reducing the achievement gap between student demographics. While 87% of parents believe they can do \»a lot\» or \»a fair amount\» to help their child succeed academically, 46% of parents say they wish they could do more.
Effective parent involvement requires two-way communication between home and school on the part of all parties involved, including but not limited to parents, educators, school administrators, subject area experts, club advisors, sports coaches, and the parent-teacher association. Using these methods, you may get more parents involved in your school\’s activities.
Recognizing the Typical Obstacles:
Due to a number of significant developments impacting parent participation, it has been more difficult to ensure adequate connection between school and home in recent years. Teachers can no longer assume that all pupils live with both biological parents because, first, the variety of family structures is on the rise. Second, there is a high rate of family mobility in the United States, making it one of the most transient countries in the world. Third, many student bodies represent linguistically and culturally diverse immigrant populations. Finally, the proliferation of student support teams has increased the likelihood that a child may have multiple teachers assisting them. Despite best intentions, schools\’ communications initiatives often run into obstacles like these and others.
Some typical obstacles that hinder outreach efforts are as follows:
1. Disabling barriers to entry:
Many parents may miss school messages if they are only available on a computer (but not a mobile device) or in a single language.
2. Excessive equipment:
The average student has eight teachers, and their varied methods of communication can leave parents feeling confused and angry.
3. Buzzword overkill:
Because parents may be unfamiliar with \»edu-speak,\» messages written in this style may fall flat.
4. Over- or shattered-out talking:
It can be challenging for parents to keep up with all the different forms of communication coming their way and to choose which ones are most significant.
Methods for Enhanced Parent-Teacher Communication:
The use of digital tools has allowed schools to improve their connection with families and increase transparency in their students\’ school days. However, as the aforementioned problems show, the explosion of available tools has splintered communications to the point where parents are left feeling overwhelmed and unclear about what to do with the information at their disposal. While parents appreciate the school\’s efforts to keep them informed, everyone loses when neither the school nor the parents know whether or not the message was received.
In light of this, we need to take things to the next level of innovation and think of ways to improve the school-wide emphasis on communications, making it easier for all parties involved and encouraging consistency in messages sent to and from teachers and parents. This involves minimizing the administrative burden on instructors, consolidating resources for parents, and making data readily usable. School leaders may win support for their objectives and programs, instructors can encourage the kind of parent involvement they envision in the classroom, and kids can count on their families because of the improved accessibility of school communications.
Leaders can set the tone for an effective school year by implementing the following communication strategies:
1. Pick one device:
In order to get a feel for how instructors are interacting with parents, school administrators should conduct a communications audit. Based on the results of this audit, administrators may then provide teachers with specific advice on which tool to use, as well as some basic communication standards. You can improve your staff\’s and faculty\’s performance in engaging parents by finding a single platform that everyone in the institution can utilize and explaining why this is a priority.
2. Send out shorter but more frequent messages:
Avoid sending out a novel-length message at the beginning of the year or a summary memo at the conclusion of the term. Just as schools have begun to conduct assessments more frequently, so too should school interactions with parents be clear and regular.
3. Customize:
Customization isn\’t just an academic concept. Even parents have come to demand it, and new technologies have made it possible for them to tailor their level of involvement with their children\’s schools. Given that not all parents can make it to school at specified times, this is especially crucial. In order to ensure that parents receive the information they deem relevant without it getting lost in the shuffle, personalization features allow them to \»subscribe\» to the channels featuring updates they wish to receive.
4. Establish the mood:
Promote open communication between instructors and parents by having them introduce themselves at the beginning of the year, maybe at parent night. So that parents know what to expect throughout the year, they should establish and share a procedure for consistent, ongoing communication.
5. Establish connections:
Teachers should put extra effort into developing positive relationships with parents at the beginning of the school year so that they can continue to flourish throughout the year. Schools should also facilitate parent-professional relationships by providing chances for parents to connect with the many members of their child\’s support network.
6. Responsibility-Sharing:
It should be made clear that all teachers are required to take part in school-wide communication projects. Leaders may make this expectation a reality by conveying it clearly and offering actionable direction, tools, and protocols. Leaders in administrative positions should show they are committed to the plan\’s success by following their own example.
7. Involve the parents:
Teachers should make an effort to get to know the families of their students if they aren\’t already familiar with them. Teachers should encourage parents to discuss their child\’s academic and behavioral strengths and struggles, as well as any home or personal issues that may be affecting their kid at school. This kind of knowledge can be crucial in helping educators meet the requirements of their students.
8. Enable parental consent:
Create options for parents to choose whether or not their child receives updates or information that may be of interest to them. Over-communicating with parents is just as counterproductive as failing to communicate at all, as they will become overwhelmed and stop paying attention. By allowing parents to select the \»channels\» of communication they find most useful, your school may empower them to take an active role in their child\’s education.
9. Offer data that can be used:
While it\’s important for schools to keep parents in the loop, it\’s equally crucial that they provide them with actionable information. Information regarding after-school activities and events can also be shared with parents so they can help their children succeed in school.
10. Talk about the good:
Basic topics covered in conversations include things like when and what to do next, what\’s on the calendar, and any recent or current changes in behavior. Although calling home on the occasional occasion can be something parents dread, it\’s crucial to look for opportunities to share good news as well.
Communications serve as the glue in schools:
It is the open lines of communication between faculty, parents, and students that lay the groundwork for a positive school culture that benefits everyone. Therefore, it is essential that the school place a priority on open lines of communication between teachers and parents. To make sure that all parents can take advantage of the opportunities available at the school, it is vital to have a comprehensive communications plan that all staff members adhere to. Keeping these tips in mind can drastically improve school communications and lead to more involved parents.