How Teachers Can Work Better with Parents
Working with parents and caregivers is just an expected part of the teaching profession. Whether they are heavily involved or entirely absent, your role means that there will be some form of communication between you, them, and the student in the middle. It is important these channels are open and neutral so there can be open discussions from both sides, and this guide has ways for teachers to work better with parents.
Be Accessible
The first point for a teacher to follow is to be accessible. There are no expectations at all that say you must be on call whenever and wherever a parent wants to speak with you; however, you should make dedicated time for communication portals. Some schools have apps, and others prefer a more traditional method like face-to-face parent teacher conferences instead, but you can add in time and sessions if you feel it is appropriate.
Proactively Seek Out Learning Opportunities
One method teachers have at their disposal is to actively seek out learning opportunities that will support them in this journey. An ACSI teacher certification helps you explore a range of topics that can really fine-tune your skills in these key areas. This is a great place to start and could be the best thing you ever do if you pick the right modules to support your exploration of knowledge journey.
Be True to Your Promises
Teachers have a lot of faces to manage and therefore a lot of caregivers too. A strong strategy for standing out and going above and beyond is to consistently deliver on your promises. Whether that is saying you will send home a weekly update, or setting up a next meeting, make sure you do it and the trust will build organically. This will make not just communication easier but the entire relationship too. For example, if you know that your commitment is not going to work then speak up and get in touch to reschedule, rather than just letting the moment pass by.
Stick to Your Agenda
Agendas are important, and yours is likely to misalign with the parents’ every now and then. It is not simply a case of locking horns and battling it out until death, though, because this would never benefit anyone. Sticking with your agenda means being able to advocate with research-backed facts leading the way and representing an educator’s perspective on what the best way forward is. Whether or not the caregiver agrees is up to them, but you shouldn’t compromise your values along the way.
Always Stay Transparent
Transparency is the most important thing of all. As well as sticking to your agenda, transparency means showing your true self and being consistent with what you deliver. It is easy to make a relationship with someone in this professional arena if you are upfront and real.
Teachers and parents are two of the most influential groups in the lives of young people. They have unique positions of impact and the way they work together will shape the entire educational experience. So, it is arguably important to channel energy into and get it right.
