The Importance of Building Parent-Teacher Relationships | written by Meredith Perry, Assistant Head of School at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot

A number of variables beyond the walls of a classroom impacts a child’s education. One vital variable is the parent-teacher/school connection. This fusion is symbiotic: relationships with parents are an essential part of being a successful teacher, and connections with teachers help parents harness new connections with their child. In addition to impacting a student’s academic performance, collaboration amongst parents and teachers in a school setting feeds a child’s overall holistic development while simultaneously modeling for students how collaboration can foster a healthy school ecosystem. 

Data illustrates how positive communication between parents and teachers helps improve a child’s academic performance.

1. On average, teacher-family communication increased the odds that students completed their homework by 40%,  Harvard Graduate School of Education study
2. Students with involved parents have a 98% average school attendance rate, which contributes significantly to academic achievement. National Center for Education Statistics
3. Students with supportive parents are 81% more likely to graduate from high school, College Access Project, University of Washington
4. Students  who discuss school courses with their parents and teachers have 44% higher odds of attending post-secondary education, Education Policy Analysis Archives

Tips for Staying Engaged with Teachers, the School Community and Your Child’s Education 

Discovering the best methods of communication and formulating a plan to keep communication open with your child’s school is important. Authentic two-way dialogue unlocks unlimited potential for students, parents, and a school. Consider these strategies to improve parent-teacher and parent-school connections:

1. Regular in-person communication: This works well for parents who typically drop off and pick up their children from school.
2. Parent-teacher conferences: Regularly attend parent-teacher conferences to meet with your child’s teachers, discuss their progress, and address any concerns. Tip: prepare for parent-teacher conferences so that your discussion can be specific rather than general in nature. 
3. Phone calls, emails, text messages: Ask teachers about their preferred method of communication and make a plan to stay in touch as needed. When communicating, be open and honest with your child’s teacher.
4. Parent-teacher associations: Establish ongoing relationships with the school community through board meetings or PTA meetings.
5. Volunteer in the classroom: Sign up to help your child’s teachers with various activities like organizing class events, reading to students, and supervising field trips.
6. Show teacher appreciation: Consider thanking a teacher with small gestures like a note, a small gift, an offer to purchase classroom supplies or anything else you know would be meaningful
7. Attend and participate in school events: Be present and stay active in your child’s school community by attending concerts, plays, science fairs, or sports days.
8. Engage in discussion at home: Talk to your child about their homework and projects, help them with research, encourage use of teacher-recommended learning sites at home and generally provide guidance.

Ultimately, communication and connectivity with your child’s teachers and the school are critical to educational success. Active involvement, intentional connections, and transparent communication practices are a few of the variables that go beyond the walls of a classroom and proactively establish a sense of trust among all stakeholders involved – students, teachers, and parents. Where there is trust, individuals flourish.