Competency 011
The teacher understands the importance of family involvement in children�s education and knows how to interact and communicate effectively with families.
In session 9, I learned that parental involvement helps students achieve more, form positive attitudes about school and themselves, attend school regularly, and increase the likelihood that they will complete homework assignments. Early communication is the key to establishing a communication line between parents and teachers. This is the reason schools hold �Open House� at the beginning of the year. Additionally, open house usually leaves parents with a positive first impression of their child�s teacher(s), which can further encourage them to communicate in the future. Throughout the school year, teachers can utilize report cards, phone calls, and parent-teacher conferences to maintain a positive relationship with parents and provide them with feedback on their child�s progress (Session 11).
My session 10 interviews with Ms. Beavers and Mrs. Wiethorn helped me to gain a better understanding of how parental involvement can help teachers manage student behavior. A simple phone call to parents regarding a behavior problem does several things. First, it lets parents know that the teacher cares about the well-being and education of their child. Second, it can help teachers learn about the cultural background of the student�s family.