increasing parent, teacher, child communication
DESCRIPTION
This article is intended to assist beginning teachers with strategies that can be used to keep the lines of communication open with parents.TRANSCRIPT
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Authors:
Melanie Stier, MS
4th
Grade Teacher, Osakis Public Schools
Osakis, MN
Julie Backes, MS
4th
Grade Teacher, Osakis Public Schools
Osakis, MN
Dennis Lamb, EdD (Primary Contact)
Associate Professor of Education
Southwest MN State University
Article Title:
Increasing Parent-Teacher-Child Communication for Beginning Teachers: S.O.S. Style
Abstract
Sharing and communicating with parents can be a very intimidating prospect for new or
beginning teachers, especially when it comes to sharing or reporting about student work,
missing assignments, or behavior. Keeping parents informed about the progress of their child can
pose to be even more daunting, if new or beginning teachers are not prepared or organized to
share information systematically with them.
Creating a Student Organization System (S.O.S.) could become a valuable instrument
new or beginning teachers implement that will not only impact parental awareness and
involvement, but also provide ownership for the students. Communicating and sharing openly
Key Words:
Beginning Teachers
Parental Involvement
Homework
Communication
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with parents about homework and school expectations, helping students stay on top of their
work, and helping beginning teachers stay connected with both parents and students can bridge
the communication gap that often exists.
Increasing Parent-Teacher-Child Communication for Beginning Teachers: S.O.S. Style
Parental Involvement
Parental involvement in a child’s academic life plays a huge role in a student’s success in
school (Carter & Hauser, 1987). It is also considered one of the most powerful means for
improving schools and for improving the satisfaction of parents and the community (Bauch,
1998). Children learn best when the significant adults in their lives – parents, teachers, family,
and community members – work together to encourage and support them (Comer & Haynes,
1997). Not only is parent involvement needed for students to maximize their learning, but
schools also need the support of parents to help strengthen the school’s image in the eyes of the
community (Krejci, 2002). Knowing the importance of this issue and the positive impact
communication between school and home has on a child’s education may be very intimidating
for beginning teachers and cause them to struggle with communicating openly with parents about
their child’s work completion, organization of projects and assignments, and behavioral issues.
Research studies indicate that almost any form of parent involvement appears to improve
student performance, regardless of socioeconomic status, parents’ income, parents’ education
level, whether or not parents are employed, or ethnicity. With high levels of meaningful
involvement, there is a greater chance for improved student behavior, attitude, and attendance, as
well as an increase in academic, social, and emotional development (Hein & Wimer, 2007).
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Effective communication can also result in improved parent attitudes, self-concepts, and parents’
confidence in their ability to be an important part of their child’s education (Parent Involvement,
2004; Cotton, 2001).
Barriers to Communication
Although the benefits of parent involvement are clear, many schools struggle to find
effective ways to overcome the barriers of keeping parents informed. When there is a lack of
communication between parents and teachers, some parents may approach the school with a
defensive and angry attitude (Edwards, 2000). Parents should be made aware of what their child
has for homework and any special reminders, such as upcoming tests, projects, or events. Parents
also need to be more aware of concerns regarding their child’s behavior in school. There are
times when a student has behavior problems that are not major enough to warrant a phone call
home, but are not minor enough to just disregard or ignore.
Having a classroom communication system that would inform parents of academic and
behavioral occurrences on a daily basis not only keeps parents and teachers actively involved
with the child’s education, but it also provides avenues of collaboration that will improve the
child’s chances of success both in and out of school (Berger, 1991). Educators and administrators
must realize in today’s society that parents and teachers are more in need of each other’s support
than ever before. Teachers and schools are experiencing a drop in community support and
increasingly difficult working conditions brought on by reduction in school budgets (Swap,
1987).
Parents have many reasons for why they may not be involved in their child’s education.
Many parents hesitate to become involved in school because they don’t have extra time, or they
may feel disconnected, due to their own unpleasant educational experiences. Parents may
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question how their own talents could contribute to school or whether they have anything of value
to contribute. Unfamiliarity with the school system and how they can become involved can also
deter parents from being involved in their child’s education (Challenge, 2005).
Not only are parents intimidated by the thought of having to communicate with teachers,
but teachers may also feel uneasy about communicating with parents. When communicating with
parents, teachers may feel pressured to always have to say the right things in the eyes of the
parents, administration, and other community members who may scrutinize their teaching ability.
Many beginning teachers, in particular, may have concerns with being absolutely frank with
parents. Dealing with parents is often intimidating for teachers, due to the pressures of keeping
everyone happy. These feelings may cause teachers to minimize their correspondence with
parents (Wadsworth & Remaley, 2007).
Methods of Communication
Many parents have the desire to obtain as much information as possible about their
child’s education. However, many traditional methods of parent-teacher communication, such as
website postings, telephone calls, notes in a child’s backpack, and newsletters, have not been
completely efficient, timely, or effective, but are still used throughout elementary classrooms
across the country (Carless, 2006).
We are now in an immediate information age, allowing teachers to utilize electronic mail
(e-mail) as a method of communicating with parents. Very comparable to sending a note home as
in the past, e-mails offer faster lines of communication with the ability to receive a quicker
response. As with notes and assignment books, e-mail allows parents and teachers to have a
written record of discussions. E-mail is an easy and convenient form of two-way communication
between teachers and parents (Womack, n.d.).
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Unfortunately, a lack of resources is a common barrier most school districts face, when
trying to develop effective online communication with parents (Doering-Jackson, Estes,
Gathright, & Templeton, 2007). Not all parents have access to a computer or have an e-mail
account (Lindberg & Swick, 2006). Even for parents that do have e-mail, they may not be in the
habit of checking it daily. In addition, the messages can be intercepted and erased by students
(Strom & Strom, 2003). E-mails can be misdirected and forwarded to anyone. E-mails are often
misconstrued or misinterpreted, due to the fact that the receiver can’t hear the tone of the
message as intended by the sender. For example, the use of all capital letters or exclamation
points can drastically change the interpretation of a message.
Effect of Parent Involvement on Life Skills
According to Anday-Porter, Henne, and Horan (2000), “Parents’ lack of involvement in
their child’s academic life and in providing an adequate study environment can lead to student
organizational problems” (p.12). Some of the issues involved with student organization are that
the students are not alike in their ability to be organized, and vary in their ability to meet
deadlines and manage time effectively. They also differ according to how often they use
organizational tools to manage such things as supplies, schedules, papers, and/or due dates.
Educators believe that organizational differences among students can play a large role in
determining how a student will benefit from educational experiences. It is also reported that a
student’s ability to stay organized reduces the stress parents experience when helping their child
with school assignments (Gallagher, 2003). The more active the child’s involvement in the
organizational process, the more likely the child is to master, assimilate, and apply the
organizational procedures (Greene, 2002). Disorganized children rarely function at a level
commensurate with their ability, since they tend to be unprepared for class and often misplace
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materials and assignments. These counterproductive patterns established in childhood are likely
to persist throughout life, unless the students are taught specific organizational techniques
(Greene, 2002).
Along with organization being a valuable skill, it also teaches students to be responsible.
According to employers and college professors, high school graduates rank fair to poor in the
areas of work habits, such as being organized and on time (McEwan, 1998). When organization
is consistently enforced, the students learn to unconsciously apply these organizational
procedures because they have become routine. When accountability is encouraged in school, it
carries over into the work place, home, and other areas of life.
Organization is not only essential to meet a student’s academic needs, but can also
encourage him/her to flourish emotionally. When students are not able to find the correct
materials or books, it may cause a feeling of defeat. A student who is well organized, completes
tasks promptly, and manages time efficiently is more likely to have a healthy self-esteem
(Molenhouse, Petsas, Somers, Spiller, & Thomas, 2000). As children acquire new skills, they
build confidence and enhance their self-concept. Their academic accomplishments generate
pride, which in turn stimulates the desire to attain additional skills and experience more success
(Greene, 2002).
The S.O.S. Model
One way to help support beginning teachers with communicating effectively with parents
is to encourage them to create a Student Organization System (S.O.S.) for those students who
lack organizational skills in their classrooms. Students who are habitually late turning in
assignments, homework, or other forms of communication home with parents may be just the
ticket for helping them stay organized and accountable.
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This particular model consists of a day-to-day listing of each subject and space for
students to record their assignments for each subject (see Figure 1). There is also a place for
parents to sign each day. On the back of the form, homework and behavior records are kept,
where the teachers, students, and parents could communicate with each other on a daily basis
about missing homework, behavior, and other notes and/or reminders (see Figure 2). This form
keeps all parties involved with academic and behavioral progress, or lack thereof, but most
importantly, provides a system to help keep students on task and on top of their responsibilities
built into their school routine.
Research supports providing routines for students not only benefits their role in the
classroom, but creates a system in which parents are consistently informed as to the happenings
in the classroom. There is less chance of communication breakdown, and the students saw that
there was a unified front between home and school, as it related to staying on top of homework
and assignments. The incentives provided to help students stay successful in their daily lives
shifted their perceptions about themselves and influenced their own awareness about their role in
their academic success.
Having a parent-teacher-student communication system can be very beneficial to all
involved. Helping students stay organized and on-task, helping parents stay informed, and
helping beginning teachers with improving communication between home and school allows all
stakeholders to own the process. Creating this type of communication system not only keeps the
students involved in the organizational process, but it helps the students become habitual in their
efforts of staying connected to their work and routinely sharing it with parents. This process can
turn a distress signal of “S.O.S”, into a successful S.O.S. - Student Organization System, where
everyone will be sailing on smooth waters!
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Figure 1. S.O.S. Form (Front Side)
MONDAY
Reading: ______________________
Spelling: ______________________
Math: ________________________
Grammar: _____________________
Science: ______________________
History: ______________________
Other: ________________________
Parent Signature: ______________
Note: This would be replicated for each day of the week, Monday-Friday).
Figure 2. S.O.S. Form (Back Side)
My Homework and Behavior Record Sheet
Student Name:
Behavior or
Homework Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Missing
Homework
Late
Assignments
Behavior
Reminders
Parent Notes
to Teacher
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