Benefits Of Building Strong Teacher Parent Communication

Teacher-parent communication plays an important role in allowing families an opportunity to be more involved in their child’s education journey, supporting student successes and building a more communicative and co-ordinated school community. Effective communication within a school community extends beyond parents and teachers, influencing how involved students, teachers, parents, principles and school administrators are in the wellbeing of the school.  

Strong communication shapes the academic journey of students, supports the professional growth of teachers, empowers parents to be active participants in their child’s education, and cultivates a positive school culture. Additionally, with innovative apps such as the Skool Loop app that allows schools refined and more accessible communication systems, the connectivity and collaboration is an intrinsic part of school life.  

In this blog post, we will highlight the benefits of building strong teacher-parent communication, for students, teachers, parents and school communities.  

Benefits for Students 

Customised support 

When teachers and parents nurture an open dialogue of how each individual student is doing across the year, the child’s educational journey is improved so that the classroom and extracurricular support is tailored to their individual needs. Not only improving the attentiveness of the parent, teacher and student but also focusing on each child’s wellbeing in a much more bespoke way. 

Improved grades and test scores 

Regular communication between teachers and parents helps students to feel supported and motivated to learn. With consistent feedback and reinforcement from both teachers and at home, students are more likely to be motivated to engage with the schoolwork. Establishing an environment where their engagement leads to greater academic and social success.  

Benefits for Teachers 

Better understanding of each student’s unique needs:  

Strong teacher-parent communication provides teachers with valuable insights that reach further than parent teacher interviews. Parents feel more supported to bring concerns or family circumstances to a teacher, and teachers have more insight into the worlds of the students in their classroom. Having those unique communication pathways allows teachers an opportunity also to adapt to each child’s learning styles, and tailor instruction to meet diverse classroom needs effectively. 

Classroom management:  

By developing a collaborative partnership with parents, teachers can address behavioural issues proactively, resolve issues when they come up and implement strategies for promoting a positive learning environment and space for their learners to grow. 

Improved personal confidence:  

Engaging in meaningful dialogue with parents allows for professional growth for teachers. They can proudly share the successes and wins in the classroom community and provide a space where they can confidently communicate the support that they need in the classroom.  

Benefits for Parents/Families 

Increased involvement:  

When parents feel valued and included in their child’s education, they are more likely to be actively involved in classroom and school activities. This may just be improving responsiveness of messages and paying attention to notices. But many parents will start to become more involved as they begin to feel a part of their child’s community, including wanting to volunteer, attend shows and fairs, and participate in school events. 

Having more of a support network within the school:  

Many parents of family members may hesitate to be involved with communications and activities due to cultural or language barriers. Building strong relationships and communication pathways creates a supportive network for families, where they can feel valued, share their experiences, and collaborate on educational initiatives involving their children. 

Benefits for the School 

Improved school culture: 

A culture of strong teacher-parent communication develops a sense of partnership and collaboration with parents, families and teachers, contributing to a positive school culture where everyone feels valued and supported. Additionally, students are more aware of the community input established and often seek to pursue more academic, cultural or sporting ventures offered within the school, as they feel valued and supported within their school environment.  

Positive school wellbeing:  

By prioritising effective communication and parental involvement, schools can improve student outcomes and focus on each individual student’s needs. Parents know they are heard and listened to, and there is much more of a focus on improving the overall wellbeing of groups and individuals in the school community.  

Focusing on improving parent-teacher communication supports the whole school community. Some strategies to establish strong school-home communication pathways include regular newsletters, updates or messages from teachers, leveraging school communication apps to speed up communications, classroom updates, event notification, more accessible options for parent-teacher conferences (online and in-person) and an established open-door policy with parents. Within these boundaries can still be placed but you can work towards more of a community in the classroom and within the school, where every parent, student and teacher can feel valued and can contribute to learning.