Communication is
the key
Good
communication between families and school is the foundation of all family
involvement in education, according to University of Minnesota researcher
Dr. Sandra Christenson. Below are some guidelines she recommends for
maintaining effective two-way communication between home and school.
Communicate
the good news, too. Communication shouldn't only occur when there's
a problem or crisis. Suggested practices for school staff include making
good news phone calls about child performance and improvement, inviting
parents' reactions to school policies and procedures, and contacting
parents right away when there is a pattern of declining grades or behavior.
Provide
timely information via a home school communication system that focuses
on school events and activities, as well as two-way communication. Specific
practices include a variety of ways of contacting parent, such as regular
newsletters, telephone trees, system-wide use of home school communication/assignment
notebook, and designed school contacts for parents to check in with
regularly. Finding ways to use new technology, such as voice mail and
e-mail, can greatly increase two-way communication.
Focus
communication between parents and educators on student performance.
Ways to do this include: homework that includes a suggested activity
for parents to do with their children to support a classroom project
and goal setting family school meetings that include students.
Ensure
parents have the information they need to track and support their children's
educational progress. Orientation nights with follow-up contact for
those who couldn't attend, support groups to teach parents how to monitor
educational progress, and home visits are good ways to do this. Home-school
contracts can be an excellent way to clarify roles and responsibility
and serve as a communication tool for monitoring progress.
Schedule
informal activities to communicate and build trust between home and
school. This can include multicultural potluck dinners, grade-level
bagel breakfasts, family fun nights, committee meetings designed to
boost home-school communication, and workshops on education and child
development issues for staff and parents together.
Send
consistent messages between home and school that emphasize the essential
nature of family involvement in education.
