Call Us Teachers – How to build positive relationships / communication with your parents.
Teachers, how do you build relationships with your student’s parents? Research has shown positive relationships with parents improve a child’s work habits, attitudes toward school, and academics. Think about all the interactions that you have with your parents on a daily basis. Any interaction you have with families can build or damage your relationships with them. Many times the relationship you have with families is a reflection of the relationship you have with their child. Kids do talk to their parents and tell them what they think of the teacher. Parents develop views of the teachers by what their child tells them. Teachers, you have to construct relations with the families. Sometimes you have to break down the negative ideas the child has told their parents. If they are not involved it is because the relationship and communication are not where it needs to be. Many times, teachers take the brunt of the parents’ frustration. Remember any relationship has two sides. How can you continue to build a quality working relationship with your parents?
First, you need to identify the kind of relationship/communication you want. Always remember to make it beneficial for your students. Always try to be consistent and collaborative. Always communication is a two-way activity. Next, you need to plan how you are going to communicate with your parents. It is very common and valuable to have weekly newsletters, google classroom, a school app with daily/hourly updates, texting, emails, and phone calls. Those items help with delivering information. In addition, there are typical events, back-to-school nights, inviting parents into the classroom, field trips, etc. Be mindful that many times working parents do not have the same availability to be in the classroom as parents that work from home. So look for ways to engage working parents also. More than just having parent-teacher conferences in the evening.
Building the relationship/communication with parents is to respect them. It comes across very clearly when you speak with them. You want them on your side so encourage conversations and ask for their thoughts and input. You want to personalize group emails. You want to address them by their name (Ms. Doe, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Smith). Try not to call them mom or dad. They address you as Mr., Mrs., Dr., or Ms. You need to address them the same.
Many times when the child is having a problem the anxiety and frustration come out directed at you. This is especially true when dealing with behavior problems. Parents really don’t know where to go and what to do if there is a problem. So many times, you guide them toward the most appropriate direction. Many times parents feel alone and judged so help them to not feel alone and judged.
The biggest tool to use with parents is to listen to what they have to say. Really listen. Ask probing questions and listen to the answers. Ask if the child is having similar issues at home. Ask if they have seen a change in the child’s behavior. But listen. You want to work together to solve the problems the child is experiencing. The best way is to have them on your side and work together to help the child. Remember just because the child is having some issues that should not reflect on how you think about the parents. Many times staff will say things like mother like child, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and other analogies along those lines are not helpful. The staff that spews negativity breaks down communications and relationships. Everyone wants the best for the child.
All parents want to be told how amazing their child is. Plan times to call parents or tell them how proud you are of their child. Make sure to call all your parents for positive actions. Especially with children that have problems. The parents are so custom to hearing negative things. A positive call can help the child improve his/her behavior. Everyone wants to be told they have done a good job. Parents need to hear more positive things from the school.
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