# data[].attributes.body
Having successful partnerships with parents is essential in providing success for students to learn and grow at school  in their academics but also social emotional well-being. As a teacher, I have seen student be the most successful when both parent and teachers communicate effectively and are engaged in a meaningful partnership. Common goals for a parent and teacher partnership should be around the child's social emotional and academic success for the student and bridging the home-school gap and collaborating on various levels with families will ensure this.
I also have had many experiences, as well as many other educators, with families who seem to quickly jump to negative conclusion, and/or may not always seems supportive or understanding. What is important to realize is that these families come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences that shape their experience around school and the people in it. It is important to establish a friendly relationship with parents in the beginning that shows that you care and you are here to support them and their child with no judgement or agenda. This might seem difficult to remember in the moment when a parent is meeting with you and you begin to feel more like the image below. But first establishing that relationship with families will hopefully set the tone for the rest of the year.
As individuals we approach anything in life with bias based on our past experiences that can often show through in situations unintentionally. It is important to address these assumptions and avoid the single narrative in order to stay away from a deficit perspective. It is important to address families and students will positive assumption and approach situations with empathy and understanding.
Now this does not mean that in every situation the parent or child is right but how we approach the conflict and turn to a more solution-oriented discussion will be more productive. If there is an issue it is important to communicate respectfully and be prepared with solutions. Taking the Appreciative Inquiry Approach can be beneficial to address issues but in a positive and strength-based way. Asking positive questions about what is going well with their child then finally digging a bit deeper to asking what are some challenges that prevent success and what are the hopes for the future. This open dialogue through positive questioning will hopefully address the issues, and will help in coming up with solutions and next steps.
Communication is key in any relationship or partnership. I have had parents share with me that the lack of consistent communication with their child's teacher is  frustrating along with not getting their voice heard or acknowledged. Two-way communication is when both parties are sharing and listening. Both individuals have equal voice and there is room for feedback. This back and forth allows both individuals to share and listen to one another while asking questions. Some examples of two-way communication are phone calls home, family conferences, or committees. I always try to start with a regular positive phone calls home. I try to make a goal to call one family a week with a positive report. This will hopefully open the door to families being more receptive to challenges that come up in the future and will help to encourage families to be more involved. The more you reach out as a teacher or educator the more you are building that positive relationship which will help with future more difficult conversations.
A part of effective communication is listening. Being an authentic listener and following through shows that you can be trusted and that you care. Getting parents input on decisions about their child is key to ensuring the parent is involved and valued as a partner. There might be times where the parent's request is not feasible but with more discussion, hopefully a compromise can be made.
In this post, I have provided some helpful tips for parents and educators to use when engaging in a parent-teacher partnership. There are also resources that can be helpful to ensure positive interactions and in the end set students up for success in school.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Establishing an open and authentic relationship.
2. Address any personal bias.
3. Approach situations with positive assumptions.
4. Stay solution-oriented.
5. Try the appreciative approach.
6. Consistent communication.
7. Listen and show that you care.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Be honest and open.
2. Show them that you value their time.
3. Be open to collaborate.
4. Be an advocate.
5. Try to focus on the positive while still getting your needs met.
6. Provide positive feedback.
7. Ask questions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
George Lucas Educational Foundation Celebrating 30 years

For parents who are interested in engaging more deeply with their kids' teachers and school communities.

When teachers bring parents in to see what their children are learning, they strengthen the home-school connection and help the adults build skills, too.

In these uncertain times, checking in regularly on the needs of families in the school community is essential for school leaders.

Getting to know every family helps schools better support students, even into high school.

These questions will help you draw out important information from your kids.

Back-to-school content is usually focused on teachers and students, and as these two groups will have the largest workload ahead of them, that makes sense. But for students, the ultimate support system is not an expert teacher, but an informed and supportive family.

Introducing computer programming to your kids can be a challenge, especially for those who aren't familiar with the nuances of code. Fortunately, in the last few years, a number of apps, software, and guides have been produced that make the often-complex subject of computer coding easy to grasp for young learners. So where to begin? These are a few resources that parents can share with their kids to help them start learning about programming.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
George Lucas Educational Foundation Celebrating 30 years For parents who are interested in engaging more deeply with their kids' teachers and school communities. When teachers bring parents in to see what their children are learning, they strengthen the home-school connection and help the adults build skills, too.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You are welcome to print copies for non-commercial use, or a limited number for educational purposes, as long as credit is given to Reading Rockets and the author(s). For commercial use, please contact the author or publisher listed.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Effective communication is essential for building school-family partnerships. It constitutes the foundation for all other forms of family involvement in education.