The Other Voice

Last week we had the opportunity to interview a panel of parents.  Quickly, we were able to see a theme...COMMUNICATION.  Parents just want to know what's going on! We are the first line of defense, we need to keep the parents up to speed about what is happening with their child.  It really resonated in me when someone said that we were like their second parents. Totally makes sense!  

As a parent, I know how important it is to be in communication with my kids' teachers.  Usually I need to be the one to reach out.  More often than not, if I do get an e-mail it's because there is a problem or a project.  I usually don't get a "great day" e-mail.  I will say there have been occasions that I did get a happy note.  This year has been a trying one for my middle schooler.  One day he came home with a note from his Geography teacher letting me know what a great day he had.  She said she didn't want to always send home the negative stuff.  We should be aware of when he is also doing a great job.  Teachers that do that are few and far between but it meant a lot to me and I know it meant a lot to my son.  So, when we discussed calling a few parents a day just to let them know how their kids were doing, I thought it was a great idea.  It is definitely something to make a priority.  We don't always want to be the bearer of bad news.

Over the past few weeks we have talked a lot about getting to know the students, forming relationships with them to be able to know how to teach them.  Forming relationships with the parents is just as important.  These are their kids and they know them better than we do.  Not every student is going to be willing to fill out our Interest Inventory or open up to us.  Talking to the parents may help with that; perhaps they can give us some ideas to help us connect with them.  Moving forward we should team up with the parents to make sure we are teaching their child as best as we can.  We can offer them support so they can reinforce what we are doing at home.  

I found this picture and I thought it was a perfect depiction of what works.  You'll notice that in the center it says, "Connect."  Connect with the students, connect with the parents, if we do this we will be one step closer to becoming the successful teachers we long to be.