1. Home-School Communication
Building Successful
Home-School Communication
Parent Teacher Conference and Beyond
Welcome all – Introduce self and any other special guests.
Check grade level of parents present

2. Tips To Support Successful Home-school Communication
Be focused on your message
Be there
Be prepared
Ask what you can do
Follow-up
Read briefly – these are detailed on the slides that follow.

3. Be Focused In Your Message General tips for successful communication
1. Approach your child’s teacher as a partner to build mutual respect.
2. Recognize that the teacher wants to see your child succeed in school and
in life – just as you do.
3. Set aside any bad school experiences that you may have had as a child.
4. Remember the topic: your child’s academic achievement and how you
can help them succeed.
5. Be calm and polite.
6. Start with something positive.
7. Practice active listening– ask
questions if you don’t understand, or
want to be sure.
Our school district views parents as a partner in education. Come to the conference with a spirit of cooperation. Both home and school have important roles in educating children. Teachers do want to see your child succeed. Why do you think we suggest to start with something positive? That will help to build a relationship with your teacher. What does your child love about the classroom or his teacher?
Who can tell me what Active Listening means? (paying attention, repeating or paraphrasing, etc.) There might be a lot of complicated information shared at the conference. If your teacher shares anything that you don’t understand, or if you feel that you need more information, ask! It’s difficult to ask questions after the conference has ended. Think of the conference as your special time to find out everything possible, and see how you can help.

4. Be There
Research shows that children whose parents participate in their student’s education achieve more academically.
Parents attend meetings and conferences send a positive message to their child about the importance of education and the child’s importance to them.
Conferences only take place twice a year in grades K-6, and they are usually under 20 minutes. Most teachers provide flexible scheduling to accommodate work and childcare needs. If you can’t make it at the last minute, be sure to call the teacher to reschedule. That shows your concern and level of involvement and also allows the teacher to rearrange the schedule to fit others in.

5. Be Prepared Talk with your child. Review your child’s performance.
Review homework assignments and textbooks.
Make note of additional information that the teacher should know about your child (hobbies, talents, challenges). Share family information as needed.
If you need translation, please request in advance.
Bring a notepad and pen.
Write out your questions or concerns so you don’t forget them!
We always encourage parents to do some preparation before the conference. These are tips that will be explained more on the next few slides.

6. Preparing: Talk With Your Child
Ask:
1. What do you like best about school? Why?
2. How do you feel about your homework assignments?
3. Do you get your class assignments done on time?
4. Tell me some ways that you work with other children in the
classroom.
5. What are your favorite things in the cafeteria and on the
playground?
6. Is there anything you’d like me to talk with your teacher about?
7. What are three things you think you can improve on this school
year? How will you do that?
Here are some suggested questions to ask your child about school. Notice that the best questions are ones that they can’t answer “yes” or “no”. What other questions could you ask your child to get this information?

7. Preparing: Review Your Child’s Performance
1. Review Standardized Test Scores; ELPAC scores and other assessment
scores such as Benchmark tests.
2. Review homework grades, fluency reports and test scores. Are your child’s
scores meeting expectations?
3. Review assignment workbooks. What problems do you see, if any?
4. Where does your child excel? What subject gives your child difficulty?

8. Share Additional Information
that the Teacher Should Know About Your Child
Does your child have any diagnosed medical conditions or mental health challenges that the teacher needs to know about?
2. Does your child have any behavior challenges that might affect
learning?
3. Are there any family challenges that the teacher should know
about? (Moving, new baby, illness, etc.)
Sometimes things outside the classroom can influence or distract our students from learning. Even if it doesn’t seem important to you, tell the teacher if there are changes in your child’s home life like: new baby, moving, illness or death in the family, etc.

9. Write Down Your Questions
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. Is my child performing at grade level?
2. How is my child progressing in learning English?
3. What are my child’s strengths? In what areas could s/he improve?
4. How is my child doing socially?
5. How does my child behave in class?
6. What can I do to help my child?
7. How can I help support your work in the classroom?
Take a moment to write down notes for a few questions you would like to ask your child’s teacher.
Always ask what you can do to help – this will help to build the partnership between you and your child’s teacher.

10. The Conference
Both parents should attend, if possible. Bring your child to the conference when they are old enough to understand and participate.
2. Practice your active listening, and be sure to repeat what you’ve heard if
you are not sure, or ask questions.
3. When you have your turn to speak, first tell the teacher something
positive about the class or about what your student is learning.
Tell the teacher how you are supporting learning at home: what habits
you encourage, and the routines for homework and reading.
Think about how you feel before you go into a conference…are you nervous? Do you think that teachers ever get nervous, too? Always start with strengths or a few positive comments or compliments, before moving on to an area of concern. One other thing to note: If possible bring anyone else in the family who might help with homework, such as an older brother or sister, the babysitter or a grandparent.
Remind parents that sometimes the education system uses abbreviations, or acronyms (such as ELA, API, etc.), or words that aren’t used by every day people. It is not considered rude to ask kindly what some of these words mean.

11. Follow Up
Even if your child attended the conference with you, take some time to sit down and discuss what occurred with him.
2. Be sure to point out your child’s strengths along with areas that teacher
describes as needing improvement or more practice.
Explain to your child that you and the teacher are part of a team and
have made a plan to support his or her education.
4. If the teacher suggested home activities, try them out.
5. Follow-up with the teacher .
6. Ask for updates.
If the teacher has suggested that you try more reading with your child, or use of manipulatives for math, or flash cards, and you have tried these at home activities and they aren’t working, let the teacher know. Give the teacher specific feedback about what isn’t working.
It is fair to ask the teacher, “When may I have an update on my child?” A note, short report or once a week is reasonable. Respect the teacher’s time though -- it is not practical to expect an update every day.

12. Contact us: Family and Community Engagement Office
Serna Center Parent Resource Center
th Avenue, Sacramento CA 95824
(916)
Sean Alexander, Supervisor
Prisila Isais, Family Partnership Facilitator
Nakeya Bell, Family Partnership Facilitator