Strengthening the School-Home Connection: Effective Communication with Parents and Guardians

Effective communication with parents and guardians is a cornerstone of successful teaching. Building a strong school-home connection ensures that students receive the support they need both in and out of the classroom. Parent-teacher communication is often a concern for the new teachers I work with. Here are some strategies for middle school teachers to enhance communication with parents and guardians.

Establish Clear Communication Channels

• From the start, it’s important to set up reliable and accessible communication channels. At the beginning of the year, send a welcome letter introducing yourself, your teaching philosophy, and important contact information.
• Ask parents and guardians about their preferred methods of communication (email, phone calls, text messages, or newsletters) and their availability. I usually create a Google form for families to fill out. I find it helpful that Google forms will generate a spreadsheet and I don’t have to input the information later.

Regular Updates and Newsletters

• Keep parents informed about classroom happenings, upcoming events, and student progress. There are a lot of ways that teachers can go about this.
• You might choose to maintain a website or blog where parents can access resources, assignments, and updates anytime. I did this early in my career, but found that it was a lot to manage for myself. One way around this is to have students update the classroom website each day as a class job. They can log on and type up what the class did that day, any homework, or any upcoming dates of significance.
• I have moved to an email newsletter model, as it’s easier for me to manage. I will send an email newsletter every two-three weeks to share highlights from the classroom, important dates, and tips for supporting learning at home.

Positive Communication

• I can’t stress this enough - share positive news regularly to build trust and rapport. I always make sure that the first communication home I have with each family is positive. Then, if you do need to contact home later for a behavioural reason, parents will trust you and know that you are reaching out to help their child because you’ve already made that positive connection first.
• One way I do this is I keep my eye out in the first few weeks to “catch them being good.” Then I send a post card to their house with a message welcoming them to the class, and thanking them for whatever I caught them doing. I created these personalized postcards, and use them throughout the year, too.

• Another suggestion is to make positive calls home. Make it a habit to make phone calls to share good news about student achievements or improvements. Positive notes via email are also great, but a positive phone call is much more personal, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had kids come in the next day and feel special that I called their mom or dad just to tell them how great the kid is.

Clear and Concise Communication

• Ensure your messages are clear and concise to avoid misunderstandings.
• Be Specific! Clearly outline what you are communicating, whether it’s about upcoming events, homework, or behaviour expectations. With communications about behaviour, remember to begin in a positive way and let the families know that you are reaching out to help support the student, not to punish the student.
• Maintain a professional tone in all communications, and be mindful of language that could be misinterpreted.

Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity

• Respect and acknowledge the diverse backgrounds of your students and their families. Provide translated materials and use translation services to communicate with non-English speaking parents. Be aware of cultural differences in communication styles and preferences. Show respect and openness to diverse perspectives.

Proactive Problem-Solving

• Address issues early before they escalate. Communicate any concerns about a student’s behaviour or academic performance as soon as they arise, and work with parents to develop strategies and solutions, showing that you are partners in supporting the student’s success.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

• Many parents can’t take time out of their work day to come into the school during the school day. If you’re able to, it’s helpful to offer families the choice to attend parent-teacher conferences in-person, on the phone, or virtually. Encourage students to take part in the conference, presenting their work and reflecting on their progress. For students that may need more academic or behavioural support, it’s beneficial to have them in the meeting to share their perspectives.

Encourage Communication

• Encourage parents to reach out with questions or concerns, but set boundaries about when you will respond. You do not have to be available 24/7 to your students and their families. Make sure parents know how to reach you, but communicate when your office hours are. I make sure to tell parents that I don’t check my email after 4pm, but I will respond to all emails within 2 school days.

By implementing these strategies, you can foster strong relationships with parents and guardians, creating a supportive network that enhances student learning and well-being. Effective communication is key to a successful school year and a positive educational experience for all students.

Let me know in the comments if you have any communication tips or tricks I should know about.

Looking for more great tips and ideas for middle school? Subscribe to my email list and receive an exclusive FREE sub plans resource. It includes plans for math, ELA, science, social studies, and Core French. Click here to subscribe.