Strong parent-teacher communication can lead to better behavior, improved learning, and a more positive school experience, especially for kids with IEPs. Learn how to work with your child’s school to make sure they get the support they need.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re navigating your child’s education alone, we understand how overwhelming it can be.
The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Effective parent-teacher communication can make a huge difference for your child, simply by ensuring everyone is aware of your child’s unique needs, and everyone is working together to support them and help them reach their full potential.
This is especially important for children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, or other challenges, as they need the specified extra help and guidance to succeed academically and socially.
By maintaining open communication with your child’s teachers, you can help ensure their plan is effective and that they’re receiving the right support.
In this blog, we’ll show you how to build a positive, productive relationship with your child’s school and set them up for success!
What is parent-teacher communication and why does it matter?
Parent-teacher communication is the ongoing exchange of information between parents and teachers about a child’s learning, behavior, and overall well-being.
When parents and teachers work together, children are more likely to get the support they need to succeed academically and socially. This is particularly important for students with IEPs who need extra support and accommodations, but it is also often the starting point for getting a child an IEP.
Quick reminder: an IEP is a legal document that outlines specific educational goals, services, and supports designed to help a child with disabilities succeed in school.
Establishing open lines of communication is essential for identifying any learning or behavioral challenges that a child may have.
Through consistent communication, parents and teachers can work together to figure out whether an IEP might be necessary for a student, or if there are other more temporary issues at play.
For children that have IEPs, ongoing communication between parents and teachers is vital to ensure that it is being effectively implemented and genuinely benefitting the child’s learning and development.
This collaborative approach to parent-teacher communication benefits everyone involved:
- Children feel more confident and motivated to learn when they have a supportive team behind them. Consistency between home and school also makes it easier for them to reach their IEP or overall goals.
- Parents better understand what’s happening in the classroom and how to support their child at home.
- Teachers gain valuable insights from parents, helping them teach in a way that works best for every student.
What are the best parent-teacher communication strategies?
Staying connected with your child’s teachers is one of the best ways to contribute to your child’s success in school.
Here are some practical steps you can take to stay involved and build a relationship with your child’s school:
- Attend parent-teacher conferences to get helpful information about your child’s progress. While attendance isn’t always required, these meetings are a great opportunity to discuss how your child is doing in school.
- Use your school’s communication tools to stay informed about what’s happening there, even if you can’t talk with teachers in person. Many schools have apps, websites, or emails that make it easy to stay in touch.
- Reach out regularly if you have questions or concerns. If you have something on your mind, you don’t have to wait for a conference to bring it up. Most teachers are usually happy to talk with you through email or phone.
- Be honest about your concerns regarding your child’s learning, behavior, or anything else. Teachers are there to help, and sharing your concerns can help them understand your child’s needs.
The extra effort you put into implementing these strategies can significantly impact your child’s school experience.
How often should I talk to my child’s teacher?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should talk to your child’s teacher.
Sometimes, if your child needs extra support or is struggling, you may find yourself communicating more frequently.
Other times, you might not need to reach out as often if things are going well.
It is also likely to depend on the type of school.
In traditional public schools, where there may not be as many resources or training for handling emotional or behavioral challenges, you might only hear from the teacher if there’s a problem, like behavior issues. This can feel stressful, and you might have to proactively reach out to the teacher yourself to talk about how to help your child.
In alternative schools, which are better equipped to handle these challenges, teachers are more likely to reach out to you. They will often keep you informed, not just when there’s a problem, but also to share positive news about your child’s progress.
But remember, even in these schools, it’s important to stay involved and keep in touch with teachers to get the best results and support for your child.
How to prepare for a productive parent-teacher conference
Even though the frequency of communication can differ from school to school, parent-teacher conferences are a universal opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss how a child is doing at school.
These meetings allow you to share information, talk about progress, and address any concerns. However, since they are often short, it’s essential to be prepared to make the most of the time.
If you’re not sure what to bring up at your next parent-teacher conference, we’ve got you covered!
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of the meeting:
- Ask your child how they feel about school to get a better idea of what you need to bring up.
- Prepare a list of topics and questions so you don’t forget anything important.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions if there’s something you don’t understand or need more information.
- Ask the teacher to help you figure out next steps to address any challenges your child might be facing.
- After the conference, follow up with the teacher to check progress or update them on any changes at home.
If your child has an IEP, parent-teacher conferences aren’t the only time you’ll have to talk about their progress.
You’ll also be invited to their annual IEP meeting, where you’ll meet with their teacher and the whole IEP team – which usually includes their teacher, school psychologist, special education staff, and sometimes other specialists – to review your child’s plan and progress.
Preparing for an effective IEP meeting
Many of the tips for preparing for an IEP meeting are similar to what we’ve already shared for parent-teacher conferences.
However, an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is a specific, written plan that outlines how your child’s educational needs will be met and includes specific goals, so reviewing this is a core purpose of the meeting. To make the most of your IEP meeting, here are a few things to think about beforehand:
- Review your child’s current IEP: Look over their goals and progress to see what’s working and where they may need more help.
- Share observations from home: Talk about how your child is doing outside of school. This gives the team a fuller picture of how they’re doing overall.
- Set long-term goals: Think about what you’d like your child to achieve over the next year, both academically and personally.
Taking time to prepare will help you feel more confident and ready for a productive discussion about your child’s education.
Remember, at IEP meetings, you are your child’s advocate. Clear, open communication with teachers is key to making sure your child’s needs are fully met.
However, if your child’s school doesn’t or isn’t able to prioritize communication, navigating this process can be much harder, whether your child has an IEP or not.
What if my child’s school doesn’t communicate with parents?
Even when you’re trying your best to communicate with your child’s teachers and school, sometimes it just doesn’t work.
Communicating with schools can sometimes be challenging, especially when the school lacks the resources or priority to fully engage with parents. Many public schools are stretched thin and simply can’t provide the individualized attention some students need.
While they may not have the capacity to offer the level of parent-teacher communication your family needs, they can still play a key role by:
- Helping you start the IEP process
- Providing documentation of your child’s needs
- Referring you to alternative schools better equipped for specialized care
If your child’s current school isn’t meeting their needs, it might be time to consider an alternative school that has the capacity to prioritize teamwork between parents and teachers.
At Education Alternatives, we understand how exhausting constant calls home about your child’s behavior can be. That’s why we do things differently.
One of the biggest differences parents notice when their child enrolls at EA Schools is fewer calls home about behavior. Because our team has the expertise and resources to support students with unique challenges, we handle most issues internally at school.
This means parents no longer have to manage daily reports of negative behavior. Instead, we focus on sharing progress, achievements, and small wins that show how your child is growing.
Even though we are able to minimize negative behavior calls, open and honest parent-teacher communication is still very much at the heart of what we do. We know that children often behave differently at school than they do at home, so working together is essential to help your child succeed in every environment.
Here are some ways we keep parents informed and involved:
- We send daily reports (passports) home so parents can quickly see how their child’s day went, keeping them informed without feeling overwhelmed.
- Our schools send regular newsletters with updates and details about upcoming family events.
- We encourage open communication, letting parents know they can reach out anytime to check in.
- If a family wants more updates, we create a personalized communication plan that fits their child’s needs.
Effective parent-teacher communication: building a foundation for success
In this blog, we’ve talked about the steps you can take to stay involved in your child’s education and improve your relationship with their school.
We’ve also emphasized the importance of strong parent-teacher communication for your child’s success, especially if they have an IEP.
To wrap it up, we want to leave you with this:
While there are steps you can take on your own, it’s just as important to have a school that genuinely partners with you, especially if your child needs more specialized support.
A positive, open relationship with their school helps your child stay on track and reach their full potential.
If you’re finding it challenging to build that partnership, you might want to consider a more supportive school environment.
Contact us today to learn more about how our programs foster effective parent-teacher communication and how we can work with you to help your child succeed!