Fostering Family-School Connections

ELM 375 - Dr. Koch

v Consider translating the written/emailed communications that you send to students’ family
members. Also, find a way to send home notes and materials in the students’ home language. This
will keep students’ families in the loop on issues such as report cards, school events, and
homework. Below is a website with several suggestions:
o https://www.educatorstechnology.com/search/label/iPad%20translation%20%20apps

v For paper correspondence, consider sending home correspondence in different colors. If important
forms are color coded, family members can be alerted as to the color of the form and make it
easier for them to identify when you reference.

v Learn some of your students’ home language. Even if it is just some common words and greetings,
using the students’ home language in the classroom and with their family will make everyone feel
welcomed.

v Learn about your school district’s language translation services as a first-year teacher. Your school
administration should be able to provide you contact information for bilingual staff to provide
assistance with translation services.

v Consider visiting with the students’ family members off-campus for those families who are
working during school and after-school hours or who may feel intimidated by the school setting.
Respect the family's time constraints and choice of location.

v Make yourself visible as possible during the first week(s) of school as the first few days that a new
student arrives. It will be helpful to greet family members, make them feel comfortable, and allow
for you to touch base with family members when they drop off or pick up their children. Establish
a time for the first teacher-student-family members’ initial conferences to get to know them,
communicate your expectations, and answer questions. Also, find out the best way to maintain
regular communication with each family.

v Invite family members to visit their children’s classrooms during instructional time when a new
concept or resource is introduced so that they can experience what the children are doing firsthand.
Invite family members to eat lunch with their children.

v Organize staff or volunteers to distribute flyers for upcoming meetings or other useful information
at the car drop-off line in the morning or afternoon.

v Create classroom phone trees or e-mail lists for announcements. If families do not have
telephones, consider creating a word-of-mouth communication system by locating one family
member in a particular neighborhood or apartment complex that is willing to pass the word.

v When meeting with family members, avoid the use of educational jargon or acronyms in
communication, which may be unfamiliar to students’ families.
v Create family learning activities (including multilingual activities) to send home to involve the
family. You could provide some family game night activities. Below are websites with family
lesson plans, family game night ideas, and summer night family activities:

o http://www.learningliftoff.com/family-game-night-best-educational-board-games-for-
kids/#.WLBO4RIrKb8

o http://www.readingrockets.org/article/get-ready-summer-ideas-teachers-share-families

v Consider a “Unity in the Community” event at school at which students’ families of various
cultures can showcase their own talents and skills or speak of their own experiences, while
educating students and students’ families in different customs and traditions.