I can really connect with the idea of building and maintaining effective relationships. This is because I make it a priority to build rapport with parents and to communicate with them on a regular basis. I think the reason why I place such an emphasis on relationships with parents is because the support that they can provide in the classroom is invaluable. Upon reflecting on my time at Columba College I can identify several occasions where the children were supported by parent helpers. Having parent help enabled those children to fully benefit from the activities they were participating in. The children's success and their genuine appreciation of the help they received also made the parents feel like valued members of the classroom.
In Becoming a Teacher Marsh (2004) has asked a great question - "how do you react to the claim that teachers are too busy to get involved with parents; that teachers are typically exhausted without having phone calls or emails from parents to deal?" (p. 261). I for one would like to challenge that claim. Having just finished a five week practicum at Columba College I am exhausted! But I didn't let that get in the way of me building and maintaining some fantastic relationships with parents. Yes, I did have a lot of work to do after school, but that did not stop me from taking half an hour to talk with parents outside the classroom. I believe it is important to remember that you can always make time to talk, and it should be a priority to inform your students' parents of what is happening in the classroom. The stronger the lines of communication, the better the outcomes for everyone.
Another way of looking at this question would be that parents are sometimes too busy to communicate with teachers. As more and more parents are working longer hours they are finding less time to come and talk to the classroom teacher. So, it seems, there are to sides to the story, however this should not stop us as teachers from making an effort to communicate with parents.
Check out my teaching tips:
- I will always strive to keep the lines of communication open between home and school. Building rapport with parents a priority.
- If I can't talk to parents after school, I will make an effort to ring them.
- I will actively seek parent help and involve them within my class programme wherever possible.
