April 19, 2024
7 mins read
For children of all ages, collaboration with parents and teachers can have a huge impact on learning outcomes. Whether you plan to go into a career in teaching or are already teaching in the classroom, there's no overstating the importance of effective collaboration in education. At the same time, building those meaningful relationships with parents and guardians can be easier said than done, especially when you have a lot of other students on your roster.
Understanding the importance of parent and teacher collaboration in enhancing learning outcomes and student success is crucial. With effective collaboration strategies for teachers, educators can significantly improve their efforts in this vital area.
Understanding the Role of Collaboration in Education
Students' best interests are served when there is extensive collaboration between parents and educators. When parents and teachers can communicate openly and effectively, they can work together to create a better learning environment for students while forming a united front to support educational outcomes.
Importance of Collaboration in Education
More specifically, there are several ways in which collaboration in education can benefit students. This includes increased levels of student engagement, improved academic success, and better student mental health and well-being.
Increasing Student Engagement
When a student seems disengaged from a class, there is often more going on than meets the eye. Perhaps the student simply isn't feeling challenged enough by the course material, or maybe there are things going on at home making it difficult for the student to focus.
Regardless of the cause, collaboration and an open line of communication between teachers and parents can help get to the root of the problem. From there, teachers and parents can experiment with different strategies to drive engagement until an improvement is observed.
Encouraging Academic Progress and Success
Interaction and communication between parents and teachers are also critical to promoting academic progress and success. Consider the example of the parent-teacher conference, which serves as an important opportunity for teachers to address student strengths and weaknesses with parents/guardians.
If a parent is informed that their child is struggling in a certain subject, the parent can take measures to address the issue. This may consist of hiring a tutor or spending more time on homework in that subject. From there, parents can effectively encourage academic improvement and success in their children.
Student Mental Health and Well-Being
In some cases, simply keeping an open line of communication between teachers and parents can help to protect a learner's mental health and well-being. When a teacher observes problematic changes in a student's behavior or grades, this can be addressed with the student's parents — and the learner can get the support or help that they need.
Effective Collaboration Strategies for Education
So, what are some steps that educators can take to foster better collaboration with parents and guardians? From establishing the right communication channels to encouraging parent involvement, there are plenty of collaboration strategies for teachers to consider in their own classrooms.
Establishing Communication Channels
Teachers should start by making sure that they are using the right communication channels to foster ongoing communication and dialogue between themselves and parents. This may include anything from email to video conferences and phone calls.
Regular Communication with Students and Family
From there, teachers also have a responsibility to be in regular communication with students and family. This could be something as simple as a quick check-in each month to inform parents of student progress or even a weekly newsletter that invites parents to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Parent Involvement in Student Education
Parents also share some of the responsibility when it comes to being involved and invested in their children's education. In fact, there are a few ways in which parents can be more engaged.
Homework and Studying
Parents should be encouraged to monitor homework and study habits, ensuring that students are spending the appropriate amount of time on homework and other assignments outside of the classroom. Questions or concerns should be addressed with teachers promptly.
Extracurriculars and School Events
Parents should also be involved in their children's extracurricular events, including sports and clubs. This can give them a better idea of the kinds of demands that may be affecting their academic performance. Whenever possible, parents should also find ways to be involved in school happenings, such as by joining the school PTO or PTA.
Benefits of Collaboration for Students and Parents
Learners, parents, and teachers alike all stand to benefit from collaboration in a myriad of ways.
Academic Success and Development
Students with parents and teachers united on the same front are more likely to achieve academic success and growth. This is especially true when teachers can address student strengths/weaknesses and parents are able to react accordingly.
Social-Emotional Development
Collaboration in education can also help to improve social-emotional development, especially among younger students in elementary school classrooms. When students feel supported by both their teachers and parents, positive relationships are built that can aid in this important area of development.
Improved Relationships and Communication
Students with connected and invested parents and teachers also tend to see improved relationships and better communication overall. That's because with healthy collaboration, everybody stays on the same page and is working toward the same goal.
Positive View of Education
Students supported by collaborative parent-teacher relationships also tend to have better overall views of education. This may be due to being better supported and welcomed in the classroom, as well as having a shared understanding about academic goals and progress. This improved view of education can help students find higher levels of success as they move through their educational journey.
Promoting Student Success Through Collaboration
As a teacher, of course one of your main objectives is to improve student outcomes and help them achieve the success that you know they are capable of. At the end of the day, collaboration between parents and educators is one of the most effective ways to promote this success and empower students to reach their full potential.
Empowering Students
Collaboration between parents and teachers leads to a sense of empowerment among students and parents alike. When students and parents know that their teachers are fully invested and that they have the communication resources they need to stay informed, they are more likely to be involved in their own educational journeys.
Supportive Learning Environment
Following the right collaboration strategies for teachers can also help to foster a more supportive learning environment. That's because the right collaboration and communication between parents and teachers can help keep the lines of dialogue open. As a result, this ensures that students are welcomed into inviting and supportive places for them to learn.
For instance, when collaboration is prioritized, a teacher may discover more about a particular student and how they learn best. From then on, the teacher can adapt and adjust their teaching style or even offer supplemental instruction in a way that supports the student's unique learning style.
Impact on Student Motivation and Engagement
When a student is struggling in class, teachers have an important responsibility to open the dialogue between themselves, their students, and their families. Only in doing so can they get to the bottom of what may be causing the issue, whether it be a problem of motivation or a lack of engagement due to something going on at home.
When teachers have the knowledge and context that they need to understand their students, they can make the necessary pivots or adjustments needed to better support these students. When students feel that they are supported in their learning, they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged in the classroom. In return, this leads to better learning outcomes.
Ready to Continue Your Education?
As you can see, parent-teacher collaboration is a crucial part of any young learner's education. With the right level of collaboration, students can be empowered to achieve higher levels of success while working toward greater social-emotional development and a more positive outlook on their education. With these practical collaboration strategies in mind, teachers of all backgrounds can start building and strengthening those connections inside and outside of the classroom.
Looking for more ways to build your skills and knowledge as an educator? It may be time to pursue your master of arts in school administration from Lindenwood University or explore any number of related education programs that we have to offer, including:
- Master of arts in education
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- Educational specialist in school administration
- Master of arts in early intervention in autism and sensory impairments
These programs are offered 100% online, so you can work at your own pace while continuing your important work as an educator. Learn more about these programs by filling out our information request form today.
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