When schools engage with families to work collaboratively in supporting their child's education, students show higher academic achievement, improved social skills, and increased motivation to learn. In this blog, we will discuss how strong parent-educator partnerships can expand the opportunities for students to practice and master new skills, be they academic, social emotional, or executive function. Learn about the benefits of engaged families for schools. Plus, download a resource to ensure that families feel welcomed to set the stage for engagement.
The Importance of the Home-School Connection
The connection between home and school is vital to a child’s academic and emotional success. When educators and families work together, children receive support from both sides of their learning environment. Building this relationship requires ongoing communication, understanding, and collaboration. Supporting student learning outside of the classroom is crucial, and there are many ways parents and educators can collaborate to keep students engaged.
10 Strategies for a Stronger Home-School Connection
Simple, consistent strategies paired with activities or resources can help both schools and parents share the responsibilities for home-school connection building. The following strategies include a tip for schools, a tip for parents and caregivers, and suggestions to put the strategy into practice.
Provide At-Home Learning Resources
Providing at-home learning resources to families is one of the most effective parent engagement strategies. Equipping families with just-right resources empowers parents to reinforce what their kids are learning at school.
School Tip:
Schools should offer resources to help parents support their child’s learning at home, specifically the learning goals and required skills for the child’s school year, as well as resources and ways to support them in reaching these.
Parent Tip:
Parents can use these resources to support their child’s learning, especially during homework time or when practicing skills at home. They can also support their children by creating an environment conducive to at-home learning and routines that allow students to focus and practice effectively.
Suggested Resource:
Take-Home Backpacks from Teacher Created Materials include a variety of resources to reinforce learning and bridge the knowledge gaps in instruction.
Establish Clear Communication Channels
Effective communication is critical to the home-school connection. It forms the foundation of a strong partnership between educators and families. Potential challenges—whether academic, behavioral, or emotional—can be identified early and can become a team effort. Parents and teachers stay aligned on students' goals, progress, and needs.
School Tip:
Teachers should establish clear, consistent lines of communication, such as emails, phone calls, or messaging apps. Schools should inform families about how and when they can reach teachers and encourage them to communicate questions or concerns.
Parent Tip:
Parents should stay on top of school communications, check emails or online portals, and reach out to teachers when needed. Prompt responses help keep communication flowing smoothly.
Suggested Activity:
Create a "communication log" where both teachers and parents can note important updates and share any questions or insights, either digitally or in a physical notebook.
Send Regular Updates
Regular communication helps foster a sense of trust and mutual respect between educators and families. When teachers keep parents informed about what is happening in the classroom and the school, and when parents stay informed and participate, both parties are better equipped to collaborate.
School Tip:
Regular updates through newsletters, emails, or class websites keep parents informed about what their child is learning, upcoming assignments, and school events. This transparency helps parents stay engaged in their child’s education.
Parent Tip:
Parents should read updates from the school regularly, ask children about their day, and make connections between school activities and home life. This helps foster a deeper understanding of what children are learning.
Activity:
Create a weekly family check-in where parents and children discuss school updates and set academic or behavioral goals together.
Invite Families In
Family-friendly events strengthen the school-home connection by creating opportunities for parents and teachers to engage in a shared, positive environment outside of the classroom. These events allow families to become more involved in their child's education and foster a sense of community. When parents attend school activities, they gain a deeper understanding of the school's culture and programs, which helps build trust and collaboration between the school and home, ultimately benefiting the students' academic and social development.
School Tip:
Host informal events such as open houses, school fairs, or family nights. These events provide an opportunity for parents to meet teachers, interact with school staff, and build a sense of community.
Parent Tip:
Parents should make it a priority to attend school events, showing their involvement in their child’s school life. Volunteering for events is another great way to engage with the school community.
Activity:
Organize a “Family Literacy Night” with storytelling, reading challenges, and activities that parents and children can enjoy together, while learning more about their child’s school life.
Encourage Parent Volunteers
Their involvement allows them to collaborate directly with teachers, staff, and other parents, creating a sense of partnership and shared responsibility for the students' success. This active engagement fosters open communication, strengthens relationships, and helps build a positive, supportive atmosphere for students to thrive both in school and at home.
School Tip:
Schools should actively invite parents to volunteer in the classroom, on field trips, or during school events. Involving parents in these activities creates stronger bonds between home and school.
Parent Tip:
Parents can volunteer their time in ways that fit their schedules, whether it’s helping in the classroom, organizing events, or assisting with administrative tasks.
Activity:
Create a volunteer sign-up sheet for classroom tasks and school events, making it easy for parents to select areas they would like to contribute to.
Make School Breaks Learning Opportunities
Vacations and school breaks can often bring a learning “slide” when students lose some of the skills and knowledge they have gained. Breaks are a great opportunity for parents and schools to partner to prevent learning loss. At-home learning during breaks, whether short or summer-long, strengthens the home-school connection by bridging the gap between formal classroom instruction and real-world experiences, too.
School Tip:
Encourage families to take advantage of vacations and breaks by providing resources, activity ideas, or recommended educational experiences that complement the curriculum. This helps families integrate learning into everyday experiences, making education feel more relevant and engaging.
Parent Tip:
Use vacations and breaks as an opportunity to engage your child in fun, educational activities, such as visiting local museums or exploring nature. This not only reinforces what they’re learning in school, but also strengthens the connection between their classroom experiences and the real world.
Suggested Resource:
Kid’s Learn! Keep students on pace with baseline grade level learning that is parent-friendly and perfect for home. This resource encompasses 18 weeks of learning and, when used together, a total of 36 weeks of learning at school or home.
Celebrate Cultural Diversity
Celebrating cultural diversity helps create an inclusive and respectful environment where all families feel valued and understood. When schools acknowledge and celebrate the cultural backgrounds of students, it fosters a sense of belonging. Parents engage more actively in their child's education and participate in school activities, knowing their unique traditions and perspectives are respected. Additionally, it promotes understanding and respect among students, enriching the learning experience and creating a stronger home-school connection.
School Tip:
Schools should celebrate the diverse cultural backgrounds of their students by incorporating inclusive practices into the classroom and inviting families to share their traditions.
Parent Tip:
Parents can share their cultural experiences and traditions with the school. Engaging in activities that highlight diversity fosters inclusivity for everyone in the school community.
Suggested Resource:
Engage Newcomers! is a take-home backpack designed for multilingual learners and their families who are new to the United States. Help newcomers gain confidence and conquer the challenges of a new school environment and the English language with must-have tools and options to access family resources in multiple languages.
Promote Positive Behavior and Social-Emotional Learning
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is an essential part of a child's development, but it can sometimes be overlooked outside the classroom. However, school breaks and daily routines provide an excellent opportunity for parents and schools to work together to support and reinforce SEL skills. Whether it's practicing mindfulness, managing emotions, or building positive relationships, integrating SEL at home during breaks strengthens the connection between school and home, creating a well-rounded, emotionally intelligent child.
School Tip:
Provide parents with resources and strategies to support SEL at home, such as daily mindfulness exercises or emotional check-ins. This helps families continue the social-emotional growth students are experiencing in school and encourages consistency between home and school environments.
Parent Tip:
Use everyday moments during breaks, such as family time or community activities, to practice SEL skills with your child. Encourage conversations about feelings, teach problem-solving skills, and model positive relationships to help your child apply what they're learning in school to their personal life.
Suggested Resource:
The 180 Days™ of Social-Emotional Learning Bundle is a K–6 at-home resource to help families to support the whole child and build essential social and emotional skills with fun, engaging activities, and thoughtfully selected social-emotional learning (SEL) texts.
Embrace Flexibility
Flexible meeting times accommodate the diverse schedules of families and allow for more inclusive participation. Parents and caregivers often have varying work hours, responsibilities, or commitments that can make attending traditional meeting times challenging. By offering flexibility, schools ensure that more parents can engage in discussions about their child's progress, share insights, and collaborate with teachers. This open communication fosters a stronger home-school connection: allowing for a better understanding of the student's needs, while also promoting a supportive learning environment both at school and at home.
School Tip:
Offer flexible meeting times for parent-teacher conferences or virtual meetings to accommodate parents with busy schedules. Ensuring accessibility helps all parents stay connected to their child’s academic journey.
Parent Tip:
Parents should take advantage of flexible meeting options, including virtual meetings, to maintain open communication with teachers. Being proactive in setting up meetings shows dedication to their child’s education.
Activity:
Use an online scheduling tool or platform to arrange parent-teacher conferences, making it easier for parents to select convenient times.
Strengthening the connection between school and home requires a shared commitment to communication, understanding, and collaboration. The result, parent involvement and collaboration, is worth the effort. By following these practical tips, schools and families can create an environment that supports children's academic, emotional, and social development. The key is building a community where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered, both in the classroom and at home.
