Question:
Teachers know the value of eliciting input and response from parents to keep them involved in supporting their children's education. Which have you found most helpful at generating valuable responses and information from parents to help in the educational process: email, telephone, blog comments, in-person conversations, or something else?
Replies:
Terri Messing - Port Orchard, WA
To help build a support system from the very beginning, at the beginning of the year I have my parents write/e-mail me in a million words or less important things they feel I should know about their child such as the way they learn, how they handle frustration, what comes easy/not so easy, etc. These letters give parents a chance to show off their child and I reaaly get a chance to develop a bond with my parents. They see I am truly interested in their child and wanting to make sure that I educate them in the best possible manner. My parents and I become team members. Through my school website and online gradebook parents can send me e-mails and ask questions about their child's grades, this has also helped to build a partnership with my parents.
GA
As a substitute Teacher, I have found the most useful way to reach parents is to contact them by phone at least once every quarter letting them know something good about their student. Parents have enough to deal with concerning discipline; but, it's the concerned teacher that lets them know that even in the most disturbing behavior students, there is something good to relay about them. One time I called a parent to let them know that their student was at least trying to behave and do their work.
Alexius Gandyloyd - St. Louis, MO
Positive input or responses from parents are usually narrowed to telephone calls, but the contact must be consistant and not always when there is a problem. Whether students are behaved or not, parent should be included. They definately should receive a call from their childs teacher when progress has been made. So, the telephone and in-person conversations are the best ways to obtain positive input.
Harry Sappington - Potosi, Missouri
As a student teacher we have been hammered with the mantra "know your kids". I have found that by knowing my parents as well as I get to know my kids this eases the times when behavior or grades become issues. I have used all methods to inform and sometimes cojol my parents into meetings. The most effective is face-to-face. As big as I am I am hard to miss! I try not be threatening though, I want to help my parents teach their children at home as well as when they are with me. Email works if the parents are in a hurry and who isn't. Notes work but do not allow quick action to problems that need immediate attention. The telephone is an all around winner. I can contact my parents, or they me, as the need arises. The problem here occurs when the parents employer does not allow calls or only during certain hours--which always seem to fall on a time I cannot talk either--drats. I even had a tele-com hook up with one parent who was so busy that she could not take the time do anything else. She simply watched in on my class and spoke to me about her child when they had gone. It was really cool, but techically not for everyone.
richa - Kota, Rajasthan
I thind vis-a-vis (face to face)is the best process.it is more effective.If not possible email(regular) is good.
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