How To Build Strong Parent-Teacher Relationships

Establishing a strong parent-teacher partnership is a vital aspect of fostering academic success for students. Through monitoring progress and promoting a positive learning environment, parents and teachers can work together to support the student’s holistic development. But how exactly can this be achieved?

To build strong parent-teacher relationships, you should start on a positive note by welcoming parents with a warm smile and complimenting them. Also, involve parents in more activities, get their preferences on matters, and update them regularly. Finally, be sure to offer support to parents that need it.

We have compiled six tips for teachers and parents to collaborate and develop a professional and dynamic relationship. These tips can help foster trust and mutual respect, leading to better interactions and, ultimately, a more successful learning environment for students. Keep reading to find out more.

Table of Contents

1. Start On A Positive Note

Fostering a strong relationship with parents is a critical aspect of effective teaching, and one of the most efficient ways to achieve this is by starting the first conversation on a positive note. This means ensuring that the initial contact or correspondence with parents highlights something positive about their child or the forthcoming school year.

It is common for educators to wait until a student exhibits challenging behavior before contacting their parents. However, this approach can create tension between the teacher, student, and parents.

But by highlighting positive behavior, not only will this please parents and solidify your relationship with them, but it can also encourage positive behavior in the student.

Keep in mind that starting on a positive note does not require waiting for exceptional achievements. Simple acts such as good participation, displaying kindness towards a peer, or any other positive behavior worth sharing can serve this purpose.

Educators often prefer email communication as it allows thoughtful consideration of what to say and eliminates the pressure of real-time responses.

Speaking of emails – you can also send an introductory email to all parents to break the ice. Keep your message light-hearted and offer words of optimism and positivity. This email should reassure parents that you are a capable and agreeable teacher, giving them confidence for the year ahead.

Effective communication with parents is a continuous process and should not be limited to parent-teacher conferences.

Starting on a positive note sets an excellent precedent for the remainder of the year. Teachers can continue regular communication through phone calls, emails, or during drop-off and pick-up times to maintain the strong rapport with parents.

2. Welcome Parents And Share Compliment

As teachers and nurturers, we must cultivate amicable relationships with the custodians of the students in our charge. A simple yet effective method to accomplish this is by welcoming them with friendliness and positivity on your first encounter.

A courteous greeting such as, “Good morning Mr. Jones, how are you today?” can not only leave a favorable impression but also serve as a chance to establish a personal bond.

Additionally, taking the time to recognize and praise the parents for their involvement or support can also serve to enhance the relationship.

Whether for their contributions to the school or for a personal achievement that you have observed, expressing sincere gratitude for their endeavors can go a long way in constructing trust and mutual esteem.

However, it is essential to ensure that all parents are acknowledged and complimented, not just a select few and that the compliments are individualized and professional.

Here are some examples of compliments you might consider sharing with parents:

“I just wanted to inform you how much I’ve appreciated having (child’s name) in class. Thank you for raising such a polite and hardworking child.”

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for offering your time to help with the school event recently.”
“I just wanted to say that we sincerely appreciate your contributions to our school – thank you!”
“I just wanted to congratulate you on your recent achievement! (child’s name) was very excited to share the good news.

3. Involve Parents In More Activities

It is essential to recognize the importance of developing a collaborative partnership with the parents of students. This partnership goes beyond the traditional parent-teacher conference, which often serves as a formal, time-bound interaction.

Instead, we should initiate casual and informal opportunities for collaboration among students, parents, and teachers.

One such activity is involving parents in volunteer opportunities, such as school trips, mentoring, and lending a helping hand with school events. This serves as an effective way to include parents in the education process and provides them with a deeper insight into the daily life of teachers and students.

Additionally, providing opportunities for parents to give presentations on topics of their expertise, or to collaborate with teachers and allowing students to lead parent-teacher conferences, is a valuable way to foster a sense of community and collaboration among all parties involved.

Having a parent as a guest speaker is also beneficial for students who get the chance to view a new style and perspective of information being presented.

In the past, I have had parents who were doctors, engineers, athletes, and even religious leaders come to class to shed light on their expertise.

By involving parents in volunteer opportunities and providing room for collaboration and presentations, parents will feel more engaged and empowered.

4. Get Parent’s Feedback

An effective strategy for obtaining parental input is to get their feedback on matters.

For instance, you can start by inquiring about their preferred method of communication. If a majority of parents prefer being contacted by email, but you are not aware of this, so you try to reach them by phone, you are likely to get fewer responses.

You can find out plenty of helpful information with a simple survey sent to parents, from their level of interest in participating in school activities to their suggestions for enhancing the classroom environment.

Getting feedback from parents gives you an insight into their experiences and thoughts, which in turn could shape your practice for the better.

It also demonstrates that you are approachable, open-minded, and progressive in your teaching approach, all of which are great traits to exhibit.

Furthermore, by asking parents about their thoughts on improving the class for their child, you are demonstrating that their input is valued and that you are invested in their child’s education.

Ultimately, seeking parental feedback enhances overall relationships.

That said, try to keep surveys brief to avoid overwhelming parents with excessive questions.

5. Update Parents Regularly

Maintaining regular communication with parents is essential in fostering trust, ensuring that all parties are informed, and promoting open lines of communication.

Weekly newsletters are a cost-effective and efficient means of keeping parents updated on a consistent and organized basis.

Newsletters can be utilized to disseminate information on school events, student achievements, and upcoming activities. They also serve as a valuable tool for sharing important information about school policies, procedures, and resources.

In addition to providing updates on school-related matters, newsletters can be used to share educational resources and tips that support student learning at home.

A simple weekly newsletter can facilitate community engagement and foster a sense of connection among parents, students, and teachers.

Again, to ensure that parents do not become overwhelmed with frequent updates, you should try to find out their preferences early on. If you see that a weekly newsletter is not having the desired impact, you can adjust this to a fortnightly or monthly occurrence.

You can also use online apps and websites to keep parents in the loop. Google Classroom, for example, allows parents to receive email updates that summarize upcoming activities, assignments, and any missing work for their child. This is a practical way to keep parents informed of the day-to-day learning.

The other digital tools that I would recommend are Seesaw and ClassDojo.

6. Offer Support To Parents

With 60% of parents struggling to help their children with homework, it is essential to understand the challenges parents face in supporting their children with learning. The survey revealed that most parents struggle to assist their children because of busy schedules and a lack of understanding of the scope of homework.

To address this issue, educators can offer support to parents to help them navigate the homework and test preparation process. This not only benefits the students academically but also helps to build positive relationships with parents, as they will see educators as individuals who truly care about the well-being of their children.

One effective strategy is to inquire about the challenges parents face during each interaction and then develop a plan to address those challenges. For example, educators can offer to schedule a conversation with parents to discuss their concerns, recommend online platforms, create video compilations of each lesson, and share detailed study guides with parents.

Additionally, educators can refer parents to helpful resources such as videos and articles to assist them in understanding the curriculum.

Moreover, we must empower and support parents in their role as primary educators of their children. One way to do this is by hosting workshops for parents on relevant topics such as homework strategies, technology integration, and child development.

These workshops not only provide support to parents but also promote a positive learning environment for students, as the knowledge and skills gained by parents are directly transferred to their children.

Parents are often too busy or embarrassed to ask for support regarding their child’s academic progress. Therefore, schools and teachers need to be more proactive in providing the tools and assistance parents may need. Most parents will be appreciative of such initiatives.

Final Thoughts

Establishing a strong parent-teacher partnership is crucial for the development of students, not to mention making life less stressful for teachers.

Furthermore, a positive and open relationship between parents and teachers enables effective communication of any concerns or issues that may arise.

Teachers can foster such relationships by initiating positive interactions early, involving and getting feedback from parents, and offering regular updates and support to parents.

By working together, educators and parents can create an environment that promotes academic growth and achievement for students.