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Communicating with Parents: Strategies for Teachers
Susan Graham-Clay
Abstract
Teachers strive to establish partnerships with parents to support student
learning. Strong communication is fundamental to this partnership and to
building a sense of community between home and school. In these changing
times, teachers must continue to develop and expand their skills in order to
maximize efective communication with parents. is article presents a range
of communication opportunities available to teachers, including the emerg-
ing use of technology. Some of these practical suggestions may seem very basic
to those already actively promoting parental involvement, but unfortunately,
many teachers have not been trained in nor are they practicing proactive com-
munication with parents. Barriers to efective communication are considered
in conjunction with potential solutions.
Key Words: parent involvement, teacher-parent relationships, school-home
partnerships, communication
Introduction
In todays society, schools and parents are responding to increased expec-
tations, economic pressures, and time constraints. In these changing times,
efective partnerships between teachers and parents become even more essential
to meet the needs of the children they share. Indeed, Epstein (1995) describes
communicating with parents as one of six major types of parent involvement
practices critical to establishing strong working relationships between teachers
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and parents. Cultivating the teacher-parent relationship is also considered vital
to the development of schools as learning communities (Schussler, 2003).
Unfortunately, many teachers are not specifcally trained in the skills they
need to communicate efectively with parents (Hradecky, 1994; Lawrence-
Lightfoot, 2004). Because school communication practices are so fundamental
to involving families in the education process, Caspe (2003) suggests that
teacher preparation and professional development programs should actively
promote the development of communication skills for teachers. e goal of
this article is to outline a range of communication opportunities and strategies
to maximize partnerships with parents. Barriers to efective communication are
also considered, as well as potential solutions.
Avenues of Communication
Communication may involve impressions created or words expressed. In
fact, communication begins with the welcome sign when the parent frst enters
the school building (Chambers, 1998). Welcome signs refecting the range of
ethnic languages spoken in the school community create an even more inviting
atmosphere (Lai & Ishiyama, 2004). e next impression may be the smile or,
conversely, lack of acknowledgement by ofce staf. Parents may also be posi-
tively infuenced by the cleanliness of the school grounds, student artwork on
the walls, and the sounds in the hallway. A customer-friendly school environ-
ment refects how highly communication with parents is valued by school staf
(Chambers, 1998).
Expressed communication involves one-way or two-way exchanges (Berger,
1991). One-way communication occurs when teachers seek to inform parents
about events, activities, or student progress through a variety of sources, such as
an introductory letter at the beginning of the school year, classroom or school
newsletters, report cards, communication books, radio announcements, school
Web sites, and so on. Two-way communication involves interactive dialogue
between teachers and parents. Conversations may occur during telephone calls,
home visits, parent-teacher conferences, open houses, and various school-based
community activities. Teachers should actively incorporate both strategies to
maximize sharing information with parents.
One-Way Communication
Written communication is probably the most efcient and efective way
we can provide valuable ongoing correspondence between school and home
(Williams & Cartledge, 1997, p. 30). Written communication is a permanent
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product that requires careful consideration regarding format and content. e
goal is to organize concise, accurate information so that parents will read and
understand it.
Newsletters are commonly used to share written information with a par-
ent community. Consistent application of several specifc strategies can make
classroom and school newsletters even more efective communication tools.
Teachers should incorporate the same color, quality, and paper size for all news-
letters to create a communication set; use everyday language (a readability
level of sixth grade or lower; many word processing programs include an op-
tion that will automatically show readability levels); and ensure grammar, spell
checks, and proofng of the information (Aronson, 1995). Chambers (1998)
further proposes that schools develop a descriptive brochure to provide helpful
information for new families moving into the school community.
School-to-home notebooks are another commonly used written commu-
nication technique. Many teachers use daily communication books to share
information with parents, particularly for children who have special learning
needs. Several authors propose strategies to enhance the efectiveness of com-
munication books (Davern, 2004; Williams & Cartledge, 1997). Initially,
it is important to clearly establish what information will be communicated,
by whom, and how often. Teachers should be sensitive to a balance of good
and bad news contained in the message, and educational jargon should be
avoided. e use of titles (such as Mr, Mrs., Ms.) establishes respect in the re-
lationship. To maximize efciency, alternate day or twice weekly notes may be
adequate, as long as the communication is frequent enough to engage parents
and to monitor student success. Finally, Davern (2004) notes that it is impor-
tant to consider when a face-to-face meeting is more appropriate than a written
exchange, depending on the issue.
Report cards are the traditional mode of conveying permanent, written
evaluative information regarding student progress. Report cards should be
clear and easy for parents to understand. ese records should provide an anal-
ysis of academic development across content areas, information about student
strengths and learning style, an assessment of the childs social development,
specifc goals for the student to work on, and associated suggestions for the par-
ent (Aronson, 1995). Report cards also generally provide an invitation for the
parent to respond, usually in written format. Teachers should review parental
responses in a timely manner to determine any required follow-up. Carefully
prepared report cards, coupled with parent conferences as needed, provide ef-
fective communication regarding student learning. Signifcantly, teachers can
prevent confrontations with parents by ensuring that the report card is not the
frst communication when concerns exist. Rather, frequent progress reports,
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phone calls, and/or e-mail messages should support and improve student per-
formance prior to the traditional report card (Giannetti & Sagarese, 1998).
Teachers have used a range of other creative approaches to communi-
cate with parents. Grande (2004), for example, created literacy bags which
were sent home with frst-grade students. ese were developed to help par-
ents understand grade-level expectations and to provide them with materials
and specifc activities to support literacy development in their child. Students
took the bags home on a rotating basis, and parents were asked to contribute
through a feedback journal. An independent survey of parents understanding
of grade-level expectations supported the efectiveness of this approach.
Two-Way Communication
Two-way communication occurs when teachers and parents dialogue to-
gether. Efective dialogue develops out of a growing trust, a mutuality of
concern, and an appreciation of contrasting perspectives (Lawrence-Lightfoot,
2004). A teacher may contact parents to celebrate a childs successful school ex-
perience. However, more frequently, the contact is to share a concern about
the child, which can be a source of signifcant tension for both teachers and
parents alike. Teachers should strive to make these interactions as productive
as possible.
One popular communication strategy is a phone call home. As the teacher
of a multi-age class, Gustafson (1998) called the parents of each child in her
class monthly to discuss concerns or to answer questions. She noted that these
contacts provided her with valuable information about the lives of her stu-
dents, including extracurricular activities, bullying experiences, and a death in
the family. Gustafson concluded that the solid academic performance of her
students came, at least in part, from positive communication with parents by
phone. Love (1996) advocates the use of good news calls to recognize the
child for progress or a job well done as a way of promoting positive relations
with parents. By keeping calls brief and leaving messages as needed, Ramirez
(2002) developed an efcient way, during school hours, to contact all of his
160 high school students parents. He notes that these initial positive phone
calls set the stage for more collaborative interactions later if needed, because
parents were already an ally.
Another traditional occasion for dialogue is the parent-teacher conference.
Efective parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity to create a successful
partnership, but they may be anxiety provoking for both teachers and par-
ents alike (Minke & Anderson, 2003). Indeed, Metcalf (2001) suggests that
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instead of viewing the conference as a reporting session for what is not work-
ing in school, teachers can construct an opportunity to discuss what is working
with the student (p. 18). Metcalf advocates a solution-focused approach based
on past student successes in order to alleviate blame and move forward with an
individualized intervention plan. Indeed, putting the child at the center of the
parent-teacher conversation will allow for a focused discussion on the whole
child, including both strengths and weaknesses (Lawrence-Lightfoot, 2004).
To be efective, parent-teacher conferences require thoughtful and well-
developed planning. Price and Marsh (1985) developed a series of practical
suggestions to address all aspects of the still traditional parent-teacher confer-
ence. In planning for the conference, Price and Marsh encourage teachers to
select an appropriate meeting time and location, advise participants in advance,
review the student fle in advance, develop a clear purpose for the meeting, and
identify information to be discussed including positive aspects of the childs
performance. Teachers are advised to begin the conference with a friendly
comment and brief, informal conversation and then to explain the students
progress in a straightforward way, carefully listening to parent input and ensur-
ing time to summarize the discussion and plan recommendations. Establishing
a specifc time frame at the outset of the conference, followed by close adher-
ence to the agenda, allows for more comfortable termination of the meeting.
Lastly, teachers are encouraged to follow-up the meeting by preparing a written
conference summary in line with school board policies. Additional follow-up
activities might involve making appropriate referrals, discussions with relevant
teachers, or planning specifc instructions or strategies.
Efective parent-teacher conferences also require important interpersonal
skills on the part of the teacher (Evans, 2004; Perl,1995; Studer,1994). Com-
municating a genuine caring for people, building rapport, conveying interest
and empathy, refecting afect, and using clarifying statements to ensure an
accurate understanding of parental views are all highlighted. Use of everyday
language and a non-threatening tone encourages conversation. Appropriate
open- and closed-ended questions also help gather information and seek pa-
rental input. Use of the S-O-L-E-R technique (Square posture, Open position,
Lean toward the other, Eye contact, and Relaxed position; Egan, 1990) can
help teachers ensure good listening skills. Perhaps most importantly, Lindle
(1989) reports that surveyed parents wanted to be treated with respect and
as equals when communicating with educators. Parents are not looking for a
cold, professional approach from school staf. Rather, teachers who develop
a personal touch in their communication style achieve enhanced school re-
lationships. Similarly, teachers need to convey a value for the authority and
wisdom of parents (Lawrence-Lightfoot, 2004).
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Parent-teacher conferences can also be a prime situation for cross-cultural
miscommunication to occur (Quiroz, Greenfeld & Altchech, 1999, p. 68).
Child-led conferences with Latino immigrant parents, for example, appeared
to be culturally incompatible and inefective. Rather, a group conference mod-
el was far better attended and more positively received by the participants.
us, teachers need to consider whether the traditional conference approach
will meet the communication needs of the parent community served.
Communication rough Technology
In recent years, educators have experimented with various technologies to
communicate with parents in innovative and time-efcient ways. Integrating
technology can help schools communicate quickly to a broad parent commu-
nity (Ramirez, 2001). Classroom phones and voice mail, video technology,
radio announcements, and school Web sites are all examples. Phones in each
classroom permit teachers a fexible opportunity to contact parents from their
classrooms when students are not present. Use of voice mail to augment phone
communication has been specifcally explored to enhance communication op-
portunities with parents. One creative teacher, for example, maintained a daily
one-minute voice mail message for parents and students to call at the end of
each day (Clemens-Brower, 1997). e recorded message provided updates
on homework assignments, classroom highlights, and also invited parents and
children to respond with a message of their own. Cameron & Lee (1997) con-
ducted two studies to explore satisfaction by teachers and parents regarding the
use of voice-mail technology. Findings demonstrated enhanced communica-
tion in both quality and quantity for upper elementary-aged students.
Aronson (1995) further suggests that schools create a brief 10-minute video
to welcome new families to the school including an introduction, tour of the
school, portions of a lesson in action, and an invitation to become involved.
One school expanded this idea and developed 50 short videos to be circu-
lated to families on a variety of topics (Clevenson, 1999). For example, one
12-minute video outlined how parents could help their Grade 8 child with a
science research project. Clevenson (1999) noted that this particular video sig-
nifcantly impacted student success by dramatically increasing the number of
projects completed.
e use of video technology has also proven efective as a communication
tool for parents of students who have severe disabilities. Alberto, Mech-
ling, Taber, and ompson (1995) utilized progress videos, picture report
cards, and video illustrations of procedures to encourage maintenance and
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generalization of new skills at home. Videos were also used for summer home-
programming activities, to demonstrate successful integration activities, and
to assist with transition planning. Parents reported the videos enhanced com-
munication with teachers and understanding of their childs school program
(Alberto et al., 1995).
Radio announcements are often used to provide specifc information related
to weather and school activities. However, one radio station and school district
took a novel approach and organized a series of book reports presented by 4
th

to 6
th
grade students (Winger, 1995). ese brief radio reports communicated
student achievement to the school community in a unique way.
Internet technology is the most recent tool used by schools to communi-
cate to a parent community. Increasingly, school Web sites are used to convey a
broad range of school information. Students often become involved with both
the technology and the content of the Web site and may work together with
teachers to create and maintain the site. Teachers trained to use the school Web
site can provide updates easily accessed by parents regarding homework assign-
ments, test schedules, resource links, and so on. In fact, use of the internet can
serve as an interactive tool for individualizing homework and supporting the
involvement of families in the homework process (Salend, Duhaney, Ander-
son, & Gottschalk, 2004, p. 65). ey noted a homework Web site can start
with a simple format providing basic information to parents and students, and
gradually increase in sophistication to create electronic assignment logs and in-
dividualized homework modifcations for students, incorporating appropriate
password protection.
Technology also holds promise to allow teachers communication opportu-
nities not limited by school hours or location (Brewer & Kallick, 1996, p.
181). Student performances can be videotaped and presented to a larger au-
dience at convenient times. Students may create digital portfolios that can be
shared with parents on an ongoing basis. Ultimately, student learning plans
may be accessed online, enabling goals and progress to be shared with parents.
Indeed, the capacity to link homes and schools with new technologies provides
many novel opportunities to enhance communication with parents beyond the
traditional formats.
Barriers to Communication
Barriers that hinder good communication between educators and parents
exist at several levels. At a societal level, Brandt (1998) notes that the public
in general is becoming increasingly estranged from public institutions, and
schools are more frequently the target of negative reports. Additionally, Tafel
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(2001) notes that many parents today feel unsupported, misunderstood, and
overwhelmed by the demands placed on them. To address these barriers, edu-
cators should appreciate that every positive interchange will serve to increase
trust and build stronger relationships, not only with individual parents, but
ultimately with the broader community as well. e local school needs to be-
come a vibrant part of the community, and schools have the advantage of
being a natural point of interaction with parents. As such, schools are in a po-
sition to host or facilitate workshops for parents on a variety of topics ranging
from child development to stress management. Schools can help create sup-
port groups for parents to address a range of needs (Molland, 2004). Schools
can also provide a mechanism for the involvement of community stakeholders
to lead workshops, provide resource links for families, fund and participate in
school projects, and support mentorship programs.
Cultural diferences can also create signifcant communication challenges if
teachers use their own cultural lenses to interact with culturally and linguis-
tically diverse parents (Colombo, 2004). To address this potential disconnect,
teachers need to seek out information to understand the cultural and linguistic
diversity refected in the families of their students. is knowledge and appre-
ciation can be demonstrated by celebrating the various cultural traditions of
their students, by incorporating speakers from the community, by appreciating
the difculties faced by immigrant parents, and by seeking out interpreter ser-
vices as needed (Lai & Ishiyama, 2004). Similarly, teachers can incorporate the
faces of diversity into childrens literature in the classroom (Molland, 2004).
Bilingual hotlines, as well as a bilingual phone tree, have been suggested as
creative ways to enhance communication with culturally diverse families re-
garding upcoming events (Ramirez, 2001). Similarly, it may be appropriate to
provide written communication in several languages to ensure the greatest ac-
cess to the parent community.
However, knowledge regarding a culture is not sufcient according to Kasa-
hara & Turnbull (2005). ey noted that professionals must also to seek to
understand the uniqueness of each family based on their own reality within
their cultural milieu. For example, through the Building Cultures Project
(Trumbull, Rothstein-Fisch, & Hernandez, 2003), teachers provided with
professional development on cultural value systems made innovative changes
to their communication practices with Latino families (such as increased abil-
ity to take parents perspectives, altering schedules to accommodate parents
and families, and providing more explicit information to parents regarding
school culture). In addition, most teachers involved in the project subsequently
provided professional development to other educators, thereby expanding the
opportunity for cross-cultural understanding even further. e time and efort
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invested by teachers to research and better understand the cultures refected in
their school community can only serve to enhance partnership opportunities.
On a parental level, a parents own negative school experiences may impact
positive relationships with teachers, or parents may simply not understand how
to efectively interact with the educational system. ese barriers can become
particularly problematic when such a parent is faced with concerns regarding
their childs behavior or academic progress. Schools can provide guidelines in a
checklist format to assist parents in managing their concerns in a constructive
manner (Hartman & Chesley, 1998). ese guidelines would encourage par-
ents to approach their concern from an information-gathering perspective, to
start at the classroom level, to hear the teachers perspective fully, and identify
how and when to engage the principal. Providing such information to parents
at back-to-school nights and in the school newsletter creates a proactive plan
for parents to follow should concerns arise.
Economic and time constraints may also be primary obstacles to efective
communication (Finders & Lewis, 1994). To address this, teachers can survey
parents at the beginning of the school year to determine parent schedules and
availability, and also to provide parents with information regarding how and
when to contact the teacher. Meeting times need to be somewhat fexible to
accommodate working parents, including those working shifts and those who
commute. e Curriculum Review (Schools Get Creative, 2005) noted that
some schools are creatively connecting with parents in many ways, such as
taking school meetings on the road to apartment complexes and even local
restaurants close to where students live. Further, one school in Florida ad-
dressed transportation problems by providing buses to bring families to school
meetings, in addition to providing dinner and door prizes to those who at-
tended. Reaching out in the form of home visits may also be needed to connect
with some families (Molland, 2004). Logistical constraints such as childcare
and transportation create challenges for many parents (Geenen, Powers, &
Lopez-Vasquez, 2001). Providing childcare options in the school building
while parents attend meetings can make all the diference for some families.
Lack of technology also limits communication opportunities for many
families. Teachers should never assume that students have access to technol-
ogy at home (Ramirez, 2001). ey should survey parents regarding access to
voice mail, computers, and the internet. In addition, many teachers and par-
ents are still uncomfortable with the use of technology. us, Ramirez noted
that paper-based communication should still have a fundamental place in the
overall communication strategy of the school, despite extensive technology use.
Importantly, the rules to written communication also apply to e-mail and web-
based content, and confdentiality of personal information must be ensured.
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On a school level, the use of educational jargon with parents is a common
communication roadblock. Teachers should monitor their conversation and
written communications to ensure jargon is avoided. If technical terms or ac-
ronyms must be used, these should be carefully explained. Audio messages may
be appropriate to communicate with parents who have reduced literacy levels
(Williams & Cartledge, 1997).
Finally, a signifcant barrier may be the still traditional 5-15 minute parent
conference that ofers little time for meaningful communication regarding a
childs academic and social progress. e perception that the teacher holds the
ofcial evidence of student achievement may further hinder a parents ac-
tive participation (Nichols & Read, 2002). To address this, Nichols and Read
suggest that teachers set the stage for an efective interview by providing par-
ents with work samples in the weeks preceding the conference; these samples
should be accompanied by information explaining the task and any assistance
or accommodations the student received. e parent-teacher meeting can also
become a more efective interchange when parents feel invited and encouraged
to attend, when conferences are well planned, and when teachers have identi-
fed the main points to be discussed with samples of the childs work at hand
(Stevens & Tollafeld, 2003). Efective use of communications skills, inviting
the valuable insights of parents, and developing a reasonable plan refecting
the perspectives of the various participants all serve to make conferences as
comfortable and productive as possible (Stevens & Tollafeld). Finally, depend-
ing on the circumstance and goal, the childs presence at the conference may
or may not enhance communication with parents (Potter & Bulach, 2001).
Whether or not to include the child may require thoughtful consideration.
Summary
Efective communication is essential to create strong school-home partner-
ships and to increase parental involvement. Just as teachers are skilled in the art
of teaching, they also require knowledge and skills to efectively communicate
with their parent community. A number of communication opportunities are
currently available to teachers, ranging from school-to-home communication
books to parent conferences to the use of internet technology. Importantly,
teachers should note that communication is rarely a discrete, individual act
but rather occurs within the context of ongoing exchanges (Adler & Rod-
man, 1994). us, teachers should strive to use a variety of efective strategies
to make communication with parents as informative and interactive as possi-
ble, incorporating new communication methods and yet retaining the human
touch. Every communication exchange, regardless of format, should refect a
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thoughtful, planned approach and should be viewed as an opportunity for
teachers to promote parent partnerships and, ultimately, to support student
learning.
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Susan Graham-Clay is a practicing school psychologist with the Simcoe
Muskoka Catholic District School Board and a part-time professor of psychol-
ogy with Laurentian University at Georgian B. A. Programs in Barrie, Ontario,
Canada. She can be reached at: Institute of University Partnerships and Ad-
vanced Studies, Georgian College, C310, 1 Georgian Drive, Barrie, Ontario,
Canada L4M 3X9, or by e-mail at: [email protected].
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