Must Dos For Parent Communication

Any veteran teacher will tell you that one of the greatest challenges to teaching is the parents. Do you have a parent horror story you relive from time to time that you wish never happened? I know I do and I have never met a fellow teacher who hasn’t! Parents can bring out the good, the bad, and even the ugly in many of us. Lets talk about the Must Dos for Parents Communication.

Must Do #1- Start the Year With Initial Contact

At the start of every year, it is a great idea to begin the line of communication with the student and their parents. Some teachers send post cards or letters to their upcoming students. We do not get our rosters early enough for that, but I do take a few minutes to call each family on my roster from the school phone line.

In the initial contact with each family, I like to welcome them to my class and tell them a little bit about myself, if they don’t already know who I am. I also welcome them to our meet the teacher or round up gathering. My goal is to make this new family know that I am excited about them.

Must Do #2- First Meeting with New Families

At the first chance I get to meet my new families, I make sure to introduce myself to the child and I go down their level to make eye contact with them and communicate with them. They are my priority and I am taking this time to learn about them, say their name a million times, and try to remember their face. Then, I introduce myself to the child’s family. I am sure to make eye contact, answer all their questions, and let them know how passionate I am about teaching and how excited I am for the upcoming school year.

If parents miss this meeting? I call them again. 🙂 If I still can’t make contact with them, I email them. I know this may seem like a lot, but Kindergarten is a big deal and I want to make sure I do everything to start the year off amazingly.

Must Do #3- Ensure Students Safety

Now, I make sure to take all the right steps to ensure their child’s safety. I check for food allergies and transportation information. To a parent who is leaving you their pride and joy in your hands,their child’s safety is very important. Parents worry about this… and not just a little bit.

You can read about how I gather this information here.

Must Do #4- First Day of School

First, I make sure to welcome my new families on the first day of school. Then, I give them grace while I they are taking pictures and make time for their tearful moments. Next, I comfort when I can. Finally, I love to offer to take a family picture to make sure I can include moms and dads into this moment. This is a big step for these families and I want to help them cherish the moment.

Next, I always send home a first day note with each student. I want them to feel the initial warmth from my classroom and I want their family to know that I know how BIG their first day of school can be.

Must Do #5- Positive Communication

Within the first few days of school, I make sure to make a positive phone call home or personalized email to each and every family. I highlight the strengths of each child. It is critical that you get to know your students and it is critical that parents know you are getting to know their child.

Must Do #6- Make More Deposits Than Withdrawals

My biggest take away from all my years of teaching when it comes to parent communication is this… make sure that you are filling the buckets of your students AND their parents. This means that parents hear lots of positive words, pictures, and communication. If and when you have to talk parents about a situation, issue, or such, you have a built a solid bridge towards them.

When a situation arises that is less than desirable, try to follow it up with more communication to the parents. For example, if a child is having a tough time being a good friend and I bring this to a parent’s attention, I follow up with the family about progress in this area.

Must Do #7- Always Kindness

Finally, there are times when things happen that are less than ideal. Even if you are the scapegoat, the one at fault, or stuck in the middle, things can get less than smooth. My best advice for parent communication remains to always be kind. You can not control others actions but you can control how you react. I have found that I never regret a situation in which I showed kindness. Even if it isn’t shown back, I always show kindness.