Week 8: Blog post 10: Self-directed Learning using Feedly

For this weeks’ reading reflection I chose two articles that focused on teacher and parent relationships and partnerships. As a parent and an aspiring teacher, I understand and acknowledge the importance of continual communication between teachers and parents. The first article I read was by Elena Aguilar and titled ‘5 Ways to Create a Strong Parent Partnership’ and the second article is titled ‘6 Ways Technology Can Reinvent Parent-Teacher Conferences’ by Carolyn Fruin.

In the first article by Elena Aguilar, she mentions that during her career as a middle school teacher she regrets, in hindsight, not better accommodating parents’ needs. It was not until she became the parent of a middle schooler with 7 different teachers when she realized truly how difficult it was for parental inclusion with all the teachers being on separate pages from one another. The author offers 5 ways to help bridge the gap of communication between teachers and parents to assist in leading to better parental participation in the students’ education. A key point that stuck out to me that Elena mentioned was how grade level teacher teams should collaborate at the beginning of the school year so they are all on the same page as far as the method in which they prefer parents to communicate with them. Ms. Aguilar mentioned that each of her child’s teachers offered different specified times and methods to contact them, which left her feeling overwhelmed and wanting to cut off all communication between her and them.

5 Ways to Create a Strong Parent Partnership

The next article, by Carolyn Fruin, addresses ways that teachers can spruce up Parent-Teacher conferences so they are not boring and mundane. Expressing how both parents and teachers can dread the conferences, teachers can help alleviate that pain by approaching with new methods that turn the conferences into an open communication forum instead of a one-way communication street. A key point that I enjoyed and will more than likely implement is turning things into a parent-teacher-student conference. Utilizing the student to be able to reflect to their parents brings a sense a pride to the student and allows for a more honest and genuine conference. Additionally, understanding that the conferences are not just for reading testing scores and grades to the parents. Instead, be creative and provide parents with resources and materials that afford them the opportunity to support their students learning and motivation. Also, Carolyn offered the suggestion of taking advantage of technology and utilizing Skype or a video conference program. It can be hard for parents to take off work early to commute to the school to meet with their child’s teacher for 15 minutes. Skype is a great way to save the parents time and still communicate the safe information with the parents.

6 Ways Technology Can Reinvent Parent-Teacher Conferences