Communication is Key

I had a meeting with my 5yo’s teachers this week.  It was wonderful to be talking to other Prep teachers and have the chance to collaborate (i.e. steal a great Anzac Day activity). Any anxieties I may have had about putting my 5yo’s education in their hands were alleviated.

It also made me reflect on the importance of communication between parents and teachers.

When I started teaching I was anxious about parent-teacher interviews and other contact. This wasn’t helped by one particular family who threatened to sue me!

I blundered along for a few years until I moved to the Northern Territory. Living and working in a remote community, the need for communicating with families about their child’s learning was clear. I had a phenomenal principal who suggested that we need to make contact when things are going well, not just on the occasions when things aren’t. This positive approach was transformative and has stuck with me ever since.

When I moved to my current school I faced the daunting task of again building relationships with a new set of students- and their families. I wanted to let families know what was going on each week. started to write and draw on a whiteboard. At the end of the week I would take a photo of the board and send it home. I got a number of appreciative comments from parents who felt much more in touch with their child’s learning.

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​With COVID-19 and remote learning I sent a daily email to my Grade 1/2 class’ parents. I (and all teachers at my school) would also call each week to see how we could assist them. Remote learning was a tough time as Victoria had a strict lockdown for an extended period. I think families felt supported by the school.

This year, I’ve moved to creating a page that goes home each Friday. I let parents know what their child has learnt during the week. I use Powerpoint and generally include something about reading, maths, and our humanities/science unit. I try to keep it brief and find Powerpoint a good format for that.

I also make sure that I am welcoming everyone in to the classroom as they arrive. Most students are still accompanied by their parents at the start of the day and so I spend the 20 minutes before school meeting and greeting. At the end of the day I go out into the yard and can have more conversations with families.

When there is good communication between teachers and parents then the school, the child and the family all benefit.
How are you keeping your students’ parents informed about their child’s learning?
​Let me know in the comments.