How Teachers should Partner with Parents?
Research points out that students succeed academically, socially, at sports and work better if their parents were actively involved in the child’s progress at school. While most parents feel unwelcome at schools, they are also partly to blame. Let’s remember that the child is at home for nearly 16 hours a day and parents could make a big impact on the child’s environment. The involvement of parents is likely to have a larger impact on studies than family income or lifestyle.
What should teachers do?
1. Make contact with parents
The more teachers get to know parents, the better their suggestion for the student’s improvement.
2. Be positive
Whenever parents get a call they are reluctant to come to school thinking its going to be another complaint session. Turn this around and say good things about children. Then parents will be willing to hear the wrong side of their children too.
3. Give them the chance to speak
Hear their opinions, fears, concerns and you’ll learn a lot about the child’s family environment.
4. Organize regular meetings
This ensures that parents are kept informed about the child’s activities.
5. Send notes as often as possible
Whether it’s the child’s activities, tests, projects, scores, meetings, forthcoming events, keep them posted.
6. Give parenting tips
Parents these days are under tremendous pressure to bring up children in a competitive world and they’ll need plenty of parenting guidance. This can be done in the form of informal discussions, seminar or newsletters.
7. Equip parents to handle studies.
Helping the parents know what skills are required to support studies at home makes for improved grades.
8. Create a resource centre
Ask parents to come over and share resources such as skills for better parenting, CDs, Cassettes, library, seminars, Parent Teacher Association meetings, expert talks on family values etc.