Effective communication is essential for family-school partnerships. Here are some possible ways for teachers and school administrators to build effective communication with families.
Guidelines for effective communication
Strive for a positive orientation rather than a deficit-based or crisis orientation.
Good news phone calls.
Invite and incorporate parent reactions to policies and practices.
Contact parents at the first sign of concern.
Communicate an “optimistic” message about the child.
Consider the tone as well as the content of your communications.
Reframe language from problems to goals for the student.
Focus on a parent’s ability to help.
Develop and publicize regular, reliable, varied two-way communication systems.
System-wide family-school communication/ assignment notebooks.
Shared parent-educator responsibility for contacts.
Handbooks.
Newsletters.
“Thursday folders” including relevant home and school information.
Telephone tree.
Electronic communication technology.
Emphasize a “win-win” orientation, rather than placing blame.
Discuss and focus on mutual goals and interests.
Use words such as “we,” “us,” and “our,” vs. “you,” “I,” “yours,” and “mine.”
Keep the focus of communication on the child’s performance.
Bi-directional communications about classroom activities, progress, and suggested activities for parents.
Home-school notebooks/notes.
Family-school meetings with students present.
Shared parent-educator monitoring system (e.g., educational file and contract).
Ensure that parents have needed information to support children’s educational progress.
Several orientation nights with follow-up contact for non-attendees.
Parent support groups to disseminate information on school performance.
Home visits.
Home-school contracts with follow-up.
Curriculum nights.
Monthly meetings on topics of mutual interest.
Create opportunities to communicate and build trust between home and school.
Multicultural potlucks.
Grade-level bagel breakfasts.
Family fun nights.
Committees designed to address home-school issues.
Workshops where parents and school personnel learn together.
Principal’s hour.
Call attention to all communication with a shared responsibility between families and schools.
Communicating the essential nature of family involvement.
Sharing information about the curriculum of the home.
Discussing co-roles (e.g., co-communicators) and implementing shared practices (e.g., contracts and common language about conditions for children’s success).
Back to School Night — establish shared goals.
Christenson, S. L., & Sheridan, S. M. (2001). Schools and families: Creating essential connections for learning. New York: Guilford Press. [Adapted by permission.]
Reviewed in 2018