Good Teacher & Parent Communication Skills

Research regarding parent and teacher communications concludes that when parents and teachers communicate well, students do better in school.  Many parents and teachers agree with this philosophy and look for ways to improve lines of communication. There are numerous things you can do as a parent or a teacher to foster good parent and teacher communication skills. 

Partners

• For parents and teachers to develop good communication skills, both the parents and teacher must be willing to form a partnership. This partnership is designed to put the best interests of the child first and often requires the willingness of both the teacher and the parents.
  

Volunteer Work

• One way parents can improve communication lines with their child’s teacher is to volunteer in the classroom. At the beginning of the school year, many teachers post information about possible volunteer positions. If the teacher doesn't let you know, ask her. There are numerous options for volunteering including monitoring center time or small groups, attending field trips, working in a concession stand or as a lunchroom monitor. These are ideal ways to get involved in your child’s school. Other ways are to volunteer for the school’s parent teacher association or join a committee.
  

Hidden Talents

• Teachers enjoy scheduling classroom speakers and often find that parents have hidden talents. Teachers can send a letter home to ask the parents if any have unique talents to share with the class. This could include parents who are artists, musicians, magicians or others with a unique skill or talent.
  

Encourage Communication

• Many teachers have a policy that asks parents to notify them if they notice a problem with the child. Teachers should always encourage parents to call, email or write a letter to explain the problem. This also works the other way, requiring teachers to notify parents of any issues. Many times, either the parent or the teacher doesn't know about the problem. By bringing up the problem and discussing it, the parent and teacher can resolve it easier.
  

Weekly Letters

• Teachers often send home a note to parents each week explaining the activities and expectations for the following week. A weekly note often breaks down what the class will learn in each subject, assignments due and any additional information parents should know.