As a communications practitioner, staying connected with parents is probably one of the few areas of teaching that don't intimidate me. My personal communication style is factual and clear and this serves as a superpower when communicating with the parents/guardians of my students. At the beginning of the year, I send out my welcome letter, class syllabus, expectations guide, and the link to my teacher website. I inform parents that the best way to stay abreast of upcoming assignments, assessments, announcements, reminders, and grades is to check my teacher website every week. For the most part, the parents do a great job of using the resources I provide. However, there is always a small population that refuses to take a proactive approach and prefers to be spoonfed information regarding the student's academic standing.
Last year, the parents who refused to stay on top of their student's grades really bothered me. I mean, it's your kid. Before I am a teacher, I am also a mother, and staying abreast of my child's academic progress is a priority. How can I help close the gaps at home if I don't know what gaps exist? But this year I understand that not all parents are the same. Not to say that some parents are better than others, but it has more to do with where parents are mentally. Often when I contact a parent of a struggling student, I get the same response. "Ms. Carter, I am so busy and overwhelmed, I forget to look at Skyward." I believe this to be true. Some might say, how can you be too busy to check in on your kids? But some of us are too busy to check in with ourselves. I give these parents grace. Life is heavy and overwhelming at times and we could all use more grace.
Comments