Parents and Teachers Partnering in Children’s Education

Parents and teachers working together.

The home and the school connection is vital. By working together, we can play an important role in your child’s development as a reader and writer. As many schools get underway to start the school year, focus on building connections and partnerships with parents is vital. Each school has a PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) that usually meets once a month to support the school. Parents are a valuable resource to the school system and we want to make parents feel valued, welcome and comfortable. Many schools hold “Meet the Teacher Night” early in the year to set the stage for proactive interactions between the home and school. At this time, parents get a chance to meet their child’s new teacher and see the classroom. Teachers introduce themselves to parents and encourage communication throughout the school year to promote student success.

It’s very important that parents take advantage of this valuable opportunity to meet their child’s teacher and talk about their child and the grade level expectations. In this way, parents see how they can play a role in their child’s education.If you can’t attend the “Meet the Teacher Night”, I do encourage you to schedule another day and time that would work for you. Throughout the school year, parents are always welcome to visit and discuss their child’s progress. Recently, I read this poem and I think it highlights my belief of parents and teachers working together to raise a child.

The Importance of Partnerships

I dreamed I stood in a studio

And watched two sculptors there.

The clay they worked was a young child’s mind,

And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher, the tools she used

Were books and music and art;

One a parent with a guiding hand,

And a gentle, loving heart.

Day after day the teacher worked,

With a touch that was deft and sure,

While the family also did their part,

And polished and smoothed it o’er.

And when at last the task was done,

They were proud of what they had wrought,

For the things they had moulded into the child

Could neither be sold nor bought.

And each agreed they may have failed

If each had worked alone,

For behind the teacher stood the school,

And behind the parent, the family home.

-Author Unknown