Home-School Connection

 

Home-School Connection

There are many things teachers are asked to do, so the task is always to prioritize the things that will give you the greatest return.  Something that we know has a high impact/return is strong two-way communication with parents/families.  Good communication between families and schools is necessary for student success.  Research shows that the more parents and teachers share information with each other about a student, the better equipped both will be to help that student achieve academically.  And that's always our #1 priority!

Student Benefits

Substantial evidence shows that parent involvement benefits students, including raising their academic achievement.  Other advantages include increased motivation for learning, improved behavior, more regular attendance, and a more positive attitude about homework and school in general.

Teacher Benefits

Research also shows that parental involvement can free teachers to focus more on the task of teaching children (again, our #1 priority!!).  By having more contact with parents, teachers learn more about students' needs and home environment, which is information that can be used to better meet student needs.  Parents who are involved tend to have a more positive view of teachers, which results in improved teacher morale. We all know how good it feels to have a strong working relationship with the families in our classrooms!

We all know the importance of  relationships, and the sense of belonging - our focus this year - and something that is becoming more important each year.  This is why teachers have been asked to make at least two personal contacts to each student's family, with the first contact being a phone call in the first few weeks of school (we've adjusted that to the first six weeks).  I know many of you have finished, or are finishing up, and I have gotten positive feedback about the responses from parents and the impact on the students and their learning.  I appreciate your attention to this expectation this year, and anticipate that this deposit will have a significant long-term impact for your year. 

I found this in an article, and wanted to share it in support of our strong communication with families.

Please let me know if you have any questions - this is going to be a great way to go into conferences in a few weeks!
Sue