5 Ways to Win Over Parents

Great ideas to improve parent teacher communication. You can use these tips to help your students be successful and make teaching more enjoyable this year.

Hey Friend!

Do you ever feel hassled by your students’ parents?

Do you get a ton of emails from them?

Do they seem to question everything?

Today, I have some ideas to share on how to win over parents so they feel confident in you and trust you as their child’s teacher.

 

I am a mentor teacher at my school and lately I have overheard a few teachers asking what to do about parents who hassle them. Now we know there might be that *one* parent who might just be a true hassle and give you a run for your money…. that’s not who this post is about. 🙂

First, let’s think of this for a parents point of view. As a mom of a 2nd grader, I get it…I need to feel complete trust in the person who influences and teaches my child for 7 hours a day.  I need to believe that my daughter is taken care of academically, emotionally, and socially. To be the best parent, I need to know what is expected of me to best help my child be successful.

Now from a teachers point of view, there are so many demands as an educator. I feel like most days I hardly can find a moment to use the restroom. I know to be the best teacher to my students I NEED support and respect from parents who are working with a common goal in mind.

I feel pretty comfortable saying my student’s parents  trust me because they rarely question me or give me a hard time, they are on my team! #winwin They offer to help me or more importantly, when I do have to give them bad news about their child, they know my motives are pure and I am offering feedback as a way to support their child.

So here are “5 Ways to Be” to win over the parents of your students.

Be Intentional

So often as teachers we share ideas within our teaching team, or are asked to implement something new from our school district. As a teacher I am always thinking how will this help my students to be successful? What does my intuition tell me? What steps will I need to take to implement this new program? What else can I add? I never want to just do something because I was asked to do it at the expense of my students’ learning. I am intentional and think of the long term results. You can read about an intentional decision I made regarding tearing down my word wall in my classroom {HERE}.

Be Positive

I regularly send home notes, make positive phone calls or send emails about my students. I make every attempt to be positive and encouraging with my students throughout the day. 

Positive Puzzles Behavior Charts are an effective way to praise students for their desired behaviors and while encouraging other students in a positive way to make better behavior choices.

positive behavior charts

Rather than saying to a student, “Please get to work on your writing”, you can say, “Raina color a piece of your puzzle, you are doing a great job of staying on task!”  The verbal praise to Raina becomes a positive reminder to all students of the expected/ appropriate behavior. Positive Behavior Puzzles can be used as individual or whole class behavior charts. 

Check out this post about Star Students for another positive idea I use during centers in the classroom.

Since my kids are constantly praised or hearing praise for academic success’, appropriate work habits, or effort they go home and share a positive attitude about school.

Be Visible and Approachable 

At my last school I used to walk my students out to the gate everyday, wave, smile, say hello to siblings, pet a dog, whatever. Parents liked to see me as a person, to get to know me at a more personal level. Even seeing me interacting with my students put their minds at ease. I cannot do this at my new school due to our dismissal procedures so I have tried to find other ways: approaching parents at assemblies, going out of my way to say hello when I see them on campus, finding ways for them to be part of our learning community on special celebration days like the 100th Day of School.

Be Clear and Consistent

I communicate several ways with parents but one form of communication they can consistently count on is a weekly newsletter that I send home with my students on Monday. In the newsletter, I clearly state our learning objectives and reminders for the week ahead. I offer ideas for ways they can further help their child succeed. The newsletter is a one stop place to get all the information that parents need to know. I like to print them and send them stapled to the front of student’s homework for the week. 

Homework newsletter
 
Another way I am consistent is with homework.  I know parents and kids are busy after school. I limit the amount of homework I send home and always send our homework folders home on Monday to be returned on Friday. If I make any changes to our normal routine, I am sure to send a note home or a quick email explaining it to them.
 
homework folders
 
I send home graded assessments only on Fridays. I want parents to know exactly how their child is performing much before progress reports or report cards. Just like I set routines and procedures in my classroom with my students, I do the same with their parents so they know what to expect.[spacer height=”20px”]

Be a Good Listener 

This might be the most important thing I can do as a teacher. I intently listen to what matters to my students. I want to capitalize on their strengths and interests. I know I can make a difference if they know I believe in them and they feel like they are important. Building relationships is proven to be the #1 way to increase student achievement! I want them to know their thoughts, interests, and beliefs are valued in our community.

At the beginning of the school year, I elicit parents for information about their child through this Editable Letter to Parents.

I listen to parents when they come to me about their child. I really listen, let them get it out, before offering advice or giving details of a school situation. I think this is easier to understand now that I am a parent. My child is my everything, I will always go to bat for my child. I assume most parents feel that way. If I keep that in mind I am more able to see their supportive motive rather than feel attacked at their questioning.

Thanks for reading today, I hope at least one of these ideas were helpful to you! I’d love for you to share in the comments what you do to build better relationships with your students’ parents. 🙂

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5 ways to win over parents

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