Inspire Article

How Can Schools Encourage More Parent-Teacher Interaction?

06.27.2012
Posted by Leon Fooksman of yourPBC.org

A good, two-way communication stream between families and teachers is essential to raising student achievement.

Not surprisingly, research finds that the more parents and teachers share information with each other about a student, the better prepared both are to help the student do well in the classroom.

Makes perfect sense, yes? But it's not so simple.

According to American Federation of Teachers, school-home communication has grown more complex as our society has changed. Greater diversity among families means that schools can't just rely on a single method of communication that will reach all homes with one given message. It's important that a variety of strategies, encompassing the particular needs of families and their schedules, be added to an overall communications plan.

So what should schools do to reach out to parents?

Encourage teachers to call parents or make home visits? Or, put up informational notices in local markets, clinics and religious institutions?

You tell us: What would you do to build better school-family partnerships?

Share your thoughts below. Or, submit an article offering your ideas and we'll post it on YourPBC.org.

You can also post your ideas to our Facebook page, our Twitter page or to the Twitter hashtag: #ParentalInvolvement.