Home and School Connection

 During this semester we have learned a lot of social aspects of s students life in the school and out of the school. We as future educators should strive for positive relationships with not just our students but their families as well. With the advancement of technology the struggles that still remain from the pandemic and many other things that go on, it is important to build relationships with student families. This creates a more positive learning outcome for all!

Not only does building relationships with your students and their parents benefit you as a teacher, but it benefits the parents and the student as well. "There are other advantages for children when parents become involved — namely, increased motivation for learning, improved behavior, more regular attendance, and a more positive attitude about homework and school in general." "Parents also benefit from being involved in their children's education by getting ideas from school on how to help and support their children, and by learning more about the school's academic program and how it works."(American Federation of Teachers, 2019).

You don't often hear of students calling parents for positive reasons. It is usually because their child was in trouble or received a poor grade. However, the article from Edutopia by Elena Aguilar she mentions how she calls her students parents sharing positive news just to create a bond and trust with the families and it also helps manage behaviors. I believe this is such a great and uplifting way to communicate and share a child's experience to their parents. Elena Aguilar even mentions how she is now a mother and she wants nothing more but to hear her teacher praise her son. Not only does it make a difference to the student but to the parents as well to show you truly care and are attentive to all your students actions. (Aguilar, 2015).

After attending the Board of Education Meeting at the Bellmore School District, I was able to see first hand how parent and family involvement was so widely accepted and encouraged. The freedom for parents to stand and voice any concerns or praises they may have to share about their child's education creates a great bond for the community to share in their desire for the child's growth. "A good relationship between a teacher and a parent, based on mutual respect and trust, benefits students. At times, parents may need to ask a teacher or school staff member for clarification about a specific issue or information. Parents should contact their children's teachers or other school staff when they have questions about their children's education." (Phillips, 2016).

In the Parent Involvement In Schools video, we see a bunch of 5th and 6th graders talk about the importance of having their parents or families involved in the school. The video mentions how parents were their child's first teachers so their involvement in their education should continue because it benefits everyone involved. The students all say how they love having their parents involved in school and it lets them know how much they care and helps them strive harder to do better. (Parent Involvement in Schools, 2022).

As a future educator I want to make my student and their families feel comfortable and have trust in me. I want to build relationships with all my students, and their parents. 

References 

Aguilar, E. (2012, August 20). The Power of the Positive Phone Call Home. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/power-positive-phone-call-home-elena-aguilar

American Federation of Teachers. (2019). Building parent-teacher relationships. Reading Rockets. (2019, September 26). Retrieved May 1, 2022, from https://www.readingrockets.org/article/building-parent-teacher-relationships 

Parent involvement in schools part 2 - youtube. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfJGqG-b1uY

Phillips, M. (2016, March 30). Myths That Undermine Parent Involvement. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/myths-that-undermine-parent-involvement-mark-phillips