How to reach parents in PTCAs
Parent-teacher community associations (PTCAs) are the best avenue to reach out to parents, and get them to become more involved in their children’s academic lives. Open communication between the two is essential for the partnership to be built.
Here are four traits that you need to remember in building up PTCA relationships:
- Positive - Teachers usually communicate with a parent when there is a problem in the classroom, usually with academics or with the student’s attitude. Sending home words of praise and encouragement can help change this mindset, and improve communication with the parents.
- Personalized - Avoid the photocopied letters or invitations sent to parents. Sending quick, personal notes make it noticeable and memorable.
- Proactive - Let parents know about your class rules, expectations and current activities. Give them time to fit into their schedule the events, plays and games your class will participate in.
- Partnership - Encourage parents to respond to your notes by leaving space for comments or questions.
Getting Started
- Remember to keep all written communication to parents simple, respectful and direct.
- Send a welcome letter to parents before the school year starts to get their children ready for a new year and a new class.
- Include your basic subjects and goals for the year, materials needed, your contact information, expectations of students’ work, and a sincere invitation to share concerns, visit and meet.
Start a weekly or biweekly newsletter
- Start a weekly or biweekly class newsletter. This can be emailed directly to their work email address or printed out for students to bring home.
- You can even personalize the newsletter by picking a student to decorate the border or be the “newsletter artist of the week” or featuring an “academic star” of the week to highlight their achievements.
Call parents on the phone at least once every grading period
Giving parents a positive phone call on improved student work or continued effort, or a ‘thank you’ for being a volunteer can help improve the communication between parents and teachers.
Create a blog account
Instead of a bulletin board with notes posted on it, create an online page for family members to visit for updates. This way, you can easily notify people regarding upcoming events, share pictures from a presentation or a game, or offer suggestions for parenting and home-learning. Create the account here.
Recognize academic and behavioral achievement
Similar to a preschool’s star symbolizing a pupil’s achievement, there should also be an achievement certificate for the high school student to take home and give to his or her parents.
Develop a parent feedback form
Parent feedback forms can help parents monitor their involvement in important areas, such as praising their children, helping with homework, volunteering in the classroom, etc. Parents can get additional ideas from these forms on how to get involved in their child’s learning. Post them on the Multiply account in a downloadable format (e.g. PDF format)
For more information, check out Keeping High School Parents Involved & Informed which gives practical strategies and tools on how to maintain parent connections.
Sources:
“HoWs and Whys of Effective Teacher-Parent Communication.” Retrieved December 3, 2009 from
http://www.slc.sevier.org/effecom.htm
“Many Ways to Reach parents.” Retrieved December 3, 2009 from
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4143
(Published 28 December 2009, Smart Communications Inc.)
