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A strong support team is the best path to student success. That team includes both teachers and caregivers, as well as the tools they use to regularly and effectively communicate about their students.

But how do you establish strong parent-teacher communication from the first day of school or with caregivers who aren’t involved in their child’s education? Use these strategies and tips to build sustainable, straightforward, and success-minded communication with parents that makes the school year more fruitful for everyone involved.

Importance of Strong Parent-Teacher Communication

A strong relationship between a child’s teacher and their caregivers is beneficial for students in the classroom. Students flourish when they feel supported in both school and home environments. Establishing regular and positive communication with parents builds a learning support team to keep them motivated all day long. It can also lead to increased diagnoses for children with special needs, preventing them from falling through the cracks of general education.

Studies show that parent involvement results in school achievement, including:

For TpT Teacher-Author Keri Brown, having a strong relationship with parents opens up the opportunity for her to have honest and candid conversations with them about their child’s learning and development. “If the relationship isn’t the most positive, parents don’t want to hear anything that I have to say about their child,” says Keri. “But if the relationship has always been positive, parents will be open to doing and trying out what I’ve suggested to help their child.” 

In terms of the benefits for students, TpT Teacher-Author Christine from Autism Classroom Resources believes that healthy parent-teacher relationships result in a more cohesive approach to students’ education. “For the student, a strong relationship between the home and the school means a stronger education, given that the people who work with him and see him daily are on the same page, collaborating for better solutions to solve any learning or behavior issues that arise.”

Parent-Teacher Communication Strategies

Teachers often have so much to do that parent-teacher communication can feel like one extra task. Unless students are regularly misbehaving or underachieving in class, some caregivers may not hear from teachers until student conference week, or maybe not even then if they’re unable to attend.

But parent-teacher communication may be the best tool you’ve got to ensure a student’s success. Find inspiration with these parent-teacher communication strategies to develop strong connections with caregivers and prevent parent communication from falling off the to-do list.

1. Start communication with caregivers on day one.

At the beginning of the year, make it clear to caregivers that you want to partner with them and encourage them to participate. Invite them to share input, give them information to help them form opinions, and listen to their feedback.

Reach out often to let caregivers know what students are learning, what they’ve accomplished, what they’re excited about, and any growth that’s occurring. Teachers can also suggest things that caregivers might ask their child about, such as your most recent lesson on fractions or an interesting part of your latest reading assignment.

As TpT Teacher-Author Kristin from School And The City notes, “Consistency allows parents to know what to expect. That way, they never feel disconnected.”

2. Find a parent communication method that works for you.

One of the most important aspects of parent-teacher communication is choosing the method that works best for you. This includes both one and two-way methods of communication, which describe communication directly to caregivers as well as ways for them to communicate back to you.

The most common ways to reach out to caregivers include:

• Emails
• Messaging on school apps
• Weekly logs in folders sent home
• Parent portals in your gradebook program
• Phone calls to your classroom or school office
• Written notes home
• In-person conversations or conferences

All of these parent-teacher communication ideas work for two-way communication, so caregivers can reach back out to you. But you can also reach out to them for one-way announcements or information, such as with class newsletters or informational flyers sent home.

Parent Communication – Parent Teacher Conferences – Positive Notes Home EDITABLE
By Teacher Trap
Grade: K-5th

Want to send a note home but don’t have time to write it all out? Use these parent communication notes to send notes to caregivers whenever you want. Editable and versatile, these parent notes are a great way to reach out about student work, behavior, and growth.

3. Surprise parents with positive news.

Positivity goes a long way toward building productive relationships with families. Remove the dread from parent-teacher communication with positive notes, phone calls, and messages on school apps.

In every conversation you have with a caregiver, even when discussing a concern or negative situation, share something positive about their child to show that you genuinely care. Caregivers will know that you see their child as a whole person rather than just another name.

As TpT Teacher-Author Michaela of Especially Education explains, “Positive notes and phone calls let the parents know you are on their child’s team — their biggest cheerleader in the classroom.” In every conversation you have with a parent (even when discussing a concern or negative situation), be sure to share something positive about their child to show that you genuinely care.

💡Pro Tip: “Call home or send notes home with positive comments at the start of the year. The earlier, the better! This way, parents know that you care about their child and LIKE their child. A parent who knows you are on their child’s side will be much more willing to listen and work with you because they know that you care about their child.” — Maribel from Learning in Wonderland

Positive Notes to Send Home for Back to School Parent Communication and Behavior
By Keri Brown
Grade: PreK-2nd

If you caught your students doing something great, let their caregivers know right away with a cute note home! Use these positive parent notes to communicate happy news to both students and their guardians.

4. Keep a caregiver communication log.

Some students work best when they’re held accountable for their behavior on a more regular basis. Send home communication logs to give caregivers a picture of how their students did that day or to make specific requests or notes on a student’s regular behavior.

While this method is especially helpful for very young students, special education, or students on an intervention plan, it also works for mainstream students. Take note of students who could use a little more attention, reach out to their caregivers about where they could improve their performance, and track their progress for a few weeks to provide a more accurate picture of how they’re doing in your class. 

Daily Parent Communication Logs/ Sheets (Special Education + Pre K)
By Especially Education

Give caregivers a complete view of their child’s day with helpful communication logs. Made for preschool, pre-kindergarten, and special education, this resource includes supply requests, behavior charts, bathroom breaks, and other important information in both daily and weekly formats.

Parent Communication Log for Middle High School | Editable Digital Contact Sheet
By Mr and Mrs Social Studies
Grade: 6th-9th

Keep track of your communications with middle and high school caregivers with a helpful parent contact log. Printable and digital versions of the resource let you note when and how you reached out, as well as the reason for your contact and the next steps discussed.

💡Pro Tip: “Whether it’s a weekly email with activities or things to follow up for during the week or a newsletter sent home, parents appreciate knowing what is going on in the classroom. If you work with students with special needs, more regular communication may be needed. You can streamline this process through a daily checkoff note with a brief comment about the day that you sign off. Although it may seem like some parents never look at these notes, the majority of them will find them helpful and appreciate the time it takes.”  — Christine from Autism Classroom Resources

5. Maintain a classroom website or blog.

For a 21st-century solution to parent-teacher communication, consider starting a classroom website or blog! Many school apps and gradebook sites allow teachers to make their own websites or parent portals, but you can also choose from a number of free website builders and blog sites for an easy place for caregivers to reference news from your classroom.

Another advantage of a classroom website or blog is that you can post homework assignments, extra credit ideas, and details on upcoming projects to equip caregivers with the tools to help their kids. You can also post a school supply wishlist and a choice of parent volunteer opportunities for caregivers to check on their own time.

Summary | Parent Homework Helper Handout
By Amber Calderon – Peppy Zesty Teacherista
Grades: 2nd-5th
Subjects: English Language Arts

Be ready when caregivers ask “How can I help my student?” with a homework helper handout about creating a summary in ELA. A packet of graphic organizers guides students through the process of summarizing reading, making it a great extra credit or supplement assignment for caregivers hoping to help students master this important skill at home.

6. Involve caregivers in classroom activities.

Many caregivers want to help teachers out but don’t know how, especially when their children are older. Let families know how they can be helpful and can ask for their assistance with specific activities. 

For example, if a parent has skills or knowledge that connect to your curriculum, ask them to come in and speak about it. The more involved caregivers are in what goes on in the classroom, the more likely they are to understand the teacher’s goals and practices.

💡Pro Tip: “Invite parents to the school. If you’re not comfortable with asking them to help to do something in the classroom, lunch is a great place to start. Parents will be able to sit with their child, but they also will be able to chat with you briefly without the idea of having to talk about academics or behavior for a change.” — Keri Brown

7. Host parent information workshops.

The more teachers encourage caregivers in their roles as their child’s primary educators and role models, the more the child will benefit (and the more fruitful classroom learning will become). To help, teachers can host information workshops with suggestions for bringing concepts from the classroom to the home, from reading and math tips to technological help for parents.

In addition, teachers can suggest books to be read at home, provide resources to help with studying, and recommend activities that can be done over the weekend. You can involve professionals from the administration and the district office to present important educational information as well!

💡Pro Tip: “Make sure your communication is valuable. For example, if you are giving parents a heads up about a test, make sure to provide them with links to resources they can use. Anticipate their questions and provide thorough answers.” — Kristin from School And The City

Reading Guide: Parent’s Handbook for Conferences Leveled Books English & Spanish
By The Template Teacher
Grades: K-6th
Subject: English Language Arts

Help caregivers understand the difference between reading levels with a handbook that comes in both English and Spanish. Perfect for handing out during parent conferences, Back-to-School Night, or during parent information workshops, this resource explains reading levels in the Fountas, Pinnell, DRA, and Reading Recovery reading systems, and provides a helpful letter for families.

Character Education Parent Letters Bundle
By Sarah Gardner
Grades: K-5th
Subjects: Character Education, Classroom Community

Focus on social-emotional learning in your classroom with a year-long bundle of SEL parent letters. Each handout focuses on a character trait you’re working on in class, giving caregivers and students the chance to communicate about the qualities they’d like to see and encourage.

8. Reframe behavior challenges as areas of growth.

Caregivers don’t look forward to calls about their kids’ poor behavior choices, and teachers don’t like making those calls, either. By shifting your perspective on behavior challenges as opportunities to grow, you’ll get caregivers’ support and buy-in as you try new techniques with their children.

Start this process by being transparent about how your classroom works. Make items like late work policies and classroom management strategies clear in your first-day parent letter or class syllabus, and ensure that caregivers understand your classroom expectations just as well as their students do. 

​​As TpT Teacher-Author Jackie from The Template Teacher points out, “Parents are extremely busy and don’t have time to look through a bunch of papers.” Before reaching out to parents, be sure to organize your thoughts and review written messages. She advises teachers to keep it short and sweet: “Most communications I send to parents are information and updates that are bulleted and concise.” 

9. Get administration involved with parent communication.

Administrators who support teachers in parent-teacher communication will find it to be a worthwhile investment. There are plenty of actions that administrators can take today to foster healthy, productive relationships between the school and caregivers, including sitting in during parent conferences, staying in the loop during parent and caregiver email chains, and counseling teachers on the next steps forward.

Administrators can also help with parent communication by reaching out to caregivers when students arrive in their office for disciplinary reasons. Teachers can circle back to caregivers for a more in-depth conversation, but when administrators deliver the news, it sends the message that the teacher has administrative support.

Maribel from Learning in Wonderland told us that her administrator helps out with making positive phone calls home. “We have a system at our school where if you fill out a positive referral, the child gets to go to the office and the principal calls home! Parents are thrilled with these phone calls and they are so meaningful for the kids!” 

For Kady of Teacher Trap, her administrator gives teachers at their school the time and tools to facilitate these relationships: “My administrators are passionate about offering excellent ‘customer service’ and making sure parents felt welcomed, respected, and valued. We were given a full workday to hold parent conferences, allowing for longer, more relaxed meetings. We were also given the freedom to use any type of communication platform (such as Facebook Group, Seesaw, Class Dojo, Remind App, etc.).”

10. Reframe parent communication as a relationship.

Good parent-teacher communication is much more than just giving a status report about a child’s academic performance or behavior in class. It’s a partnership that provides a two-way flow of information about a child’s achievements and social-emotional development both in the classroom and at home. 

Create an environment in which caregivers can feel free to share information, ask questions, and make recommendations by making their child’s academic progress accessible to them. Don’t make assumptions about a family member’s level of knowledge, understanding, or interest, and treat every conversation as a chance for both of you to learn more about their child.

“Some parents are easier to get along with so success could mean having them sign the agenda each night,” says Keri Brown. “For others, it could be getting them to answer the phone each time you call.” 

When it comes to collecting feedback, Kady from Teacher Trap takes to a survey to help measure success. “My goal is for parents to feel that I am their child’s biggest champion and that they feel safe contacting me about any concern,” she explains. “I send out a survey around the middle of the year to check on how the parent is feeling things are going. Hearing that positive feedback lets me know that I am on the right track.”

Visual Transition Plan (ITP) Student & Parent Survey
By Adulting Made Easy aka SpedAdulting
Grades: 6th-12th

Guide caregivers through their students’ IEP transitions with a visual transition plan. With a transition plan survey about students’ futures and hobbies for both students and caregivers, the resource comes in editable digital formats and slideshows to ensure everyone on a student’s IEP is on the same page.

Tips for Communicating with Caregivers

There’s always room to streamline and improve your parent-teacher communication. Hone your communication techniques with these tips that can get the results you, caregivers, and students all want.

• Ask caregivers when and how you can communicate with them. Determine which caregivers prefer phone calls at certain times of the day, and which prefer emails or messaging through school apps.
• Keep communication short and straightforward. Besides an introductory sentence or two, your message home should be clear and to the point.
• Be timely and consistent. Communicate with caregivers on the day an event or problem occurs, and respond to parent communication within 24 hours of receiving it.
• Turn statements into questions. Rather than informing caregivers of a problem in class, try asking questions about a student’s needs and past behavior.
• Assess your communication style throughout the year. If students are struggling or you’re not reaching certain caregivers, assess whether you need to adjust your current communication style or method.
• Involve caregivers in the path forward. Equip adults to support students at home with resources, regular communication, and goals for the next steps.

Keep the conversation going after class ends

Every day is an opportunity to build relationships with caregivers in your class. Use more caregiver communication resources to create connections that will help students long after the bell rings in your class, and to generate trust and relationships that extend for their entire educational journey.