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In what practical ways do you and/or your school currently support parents? What benefits have you seen from this?
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Our school is very open to parents, they always have the doors open to come and visit special activities in the classroom and at the school in general. Our mission stament declares that the school partners with the parents to foster excellence in
each student while developing spiritual leaders who are fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. As a result parents are always willing to volunteer helping and supporting the teachers and the school. -
This Christian school has an amazing parent support group for the teachers and staff. There seems no need to encourage them to get involved. As it happens, today is the Friday before Mother’s Day. As I was getting out of my car in the parking lot, a student handed me a Key lime pie. Her mother was nearby emptying her car of a dozen more for other teachers. I never cease to be surprised by our parents. I hope that we likewise support them. I have not looked at it lately from that direction. I hope to never judge a child’s home life and try to careful about personal comments to students except positive ones. I appreciate the reminders and perspectives of this course.
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In the school I have been working in the office for we emphasize that we are an extension of the home. We cannot teach the child everything, we simply reinforce what the parents are doing. What we have found through this support for parents is they often become more involved in their child’s life which is the greatest benefit of all.
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There are many ways that teachers can help support parents. I believe that communication is an essential way that we as educators can show parents that we care. Keeping parents aware of the performance of their child as well as sharing the accomplishments and struggles that their child may experience during school builds a sense of openness and trust with the parent stakeholders. I have personally seen how establishing such relationships of open communication early on in the academic year has served to make harder conversations less of a struggle for both parties later on. Letting parents know that you are there to help encourage and support not only the student , but the family as well goes a long way in developing a framework of trust and faith that benefits all those involved throughout the school years and beyond.
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