Parents are always being told they should get more involved in their children's schools. Research shows that parents can only do that when they are treated as partners, however. 

Some teachers make it easy for parents to become partners in their child's learning. But others do not, and when that happens, it's easy for everyone to become frustrated and discouraged. Teacher and parent stress then make partnership difficult.

Elaine McEwan has worked both sides of the desk, as a parent and as a teacher. She now works to help parents and schools improve learning and foster better parent-teacher communication. She asked parents what they believed teachers could do differently to help them work as partners at school.

20 Ways Teachers Can Increase Parent Involvement in Education

Here are the parents' Top 20 List for Teachers:

 

1.       Talk to us! We need open and regular communication, through newsletters, phone calls, email and even home visits. 
 

2.       Use plain English, not educational jargon. 
 

3.       Don't surprise us. We ought to have plenty of notice if a child will be getting a failing grade. 
 

4.       Tell the truth about what is happening at school, even if the news is bad. 
 

5.       Inform us when schedules, textbooks or programs will be canceled. 
 

6.       Don't deny us access to important information about our children or school programs that may help them. 
 

7.       Get to know my child: his likes, dislikes, passions and struggles. 
 

8.       Keep an open mind about my child, even if he comes with one or more labels. 
 

9.       Don't dismiss or ignore our concerns. 
 

10.   Trust our judgments; we know more than you think we do about how our children learn. 
 

11.   Expect us to care, even if we don't have a formal education and our child gets a free lunch; don't talk down to us. 
 

12.   Respect our values: Don't show inappropriate movies or give kids things to read that we consider objectionable. 
 

13.   Apologize when you make a mistake. 
 

14.   Discipline consistently and let us in on what you are doing so we can support you at home. 
 

15.   Schedule conferences at times when working parents can get there. 
 

16.   Let us know why you've asked to see us before we get to school. 
 

17.   Sometimes offer to meet us at our home or at a restaurant where we are more comfortable. 
 

18.   Don't "circle the wagons." Listen to our concerns before you automatically support other teachers. 
 

19.   Never break a confidence or gossip about parents and students in the faculty lounge. 
 

20.   Keep your promises and follow up on progress after our meetings.

Working with parents isn't always easy for teachers. It takes time and patience, something teachers too often lack. Still, as parents we need to expect more. Because a little attention to these details today can mean a lifetime of better learning for our children. 

 

Linda Wacyk is a former EduGuide editor. Elaine McEwan has written several books including How to Deal With Parents Who Are Angry, Troubled, Afraid, or Just Plain Crazy; Angry Parents, Failing Schools: What's Wrong With the Public Schools & What You Can Do About It; and Solving School Problems.