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5 Strategies for Parent and Guardian Outreach

By: Alyssa Owens

A former English teacher and instructional coach, now curriculum designer for digital-based job training programs.

School has been at home for more than a month.

The switch to remote learning in the midst of a global pandemic has required a herculean effort on the part of educators, parents, and guardians.

In a matter of days, K-12 teachers across the nation had to entirely reimagine teaching and learning. Parents and guardians, too, found themselves in new territory as they assumed unfamiliar roles as teachers, tutors, and educational technology troubleshooters.

Some families are beginning to show signs of settling into a rhythm of online learning — schedules have been made, computer issues resolved and kitchen tables transformed into makeshift workspaces. But for most, the adjustment has posed extraordinary challenges to learning. Whether it is a lack of access to technology, a child with a learning disability, or a time-poor parent or guardian, American families are grappling with enormous hurdles to homeschool success.

Perhaps never before has strong collaboration between home and school had the potential for a higher payoff.”

And as more states announce that schools will remain shuttered for the upcoming school year, parents and guardians are searching for ways to improve the at-home learning experience. Teachers are well-placed to help.

Perhaps never before has strong collaboration between home and school had the potential for a higher payoff. Successful parent and guardian outreach during shutdowns will allow schools to support them and gather valuable data on how the learning process is playing out at home. Both should help teachers ensure learning continues while the rest of the world is on pause.

While teachers are busy lining up lessons for two more months of distance learning, investing in parent and guardian outreach should remain high on the priority list. These strategies can help:

When checking in, ask parents and guardians to share what they notice: How is their child responding to the lessons? What additional supports do they need? When do they get bored? When are they enthusiastic?”

Ask for feedback

With schoolwork happening on couches and kitchen tables, parents and guardians have an up-close view of how their child is responding to a new learning environment. Teachers should tap into this knowledge. Some parents and guardians will freely offer up their thoughts on what’s working and what’s not. Others, strapped for time, need to be asked more directly. When checking in, ask parents and guardians to share what they notice: How is their child responding to the lessons? What additional supports do they need? When do they get bored? When are they enthusiastic?

Reach out in different ways

With exhausted parents and guardians juggling work and care, picking up a teacher’s phone call or replying to a principal’s text message may feel even more difficult than usual. Teachers should rethink what communication channels work best now. Consider recorded webinars that parents and guardians can digest after the kids are asleep or on weekends during downtime. For the parents and guardians who have the time, 1:1 online video conferencing is a good way to connect “face-to-face.” Video conference office hours let busy parents and guardians drop in when they’re available. As a bonus, office hours create community-building opportunities for parents and guardians who log in at the same time.

Whenever possible, show parents and guardians how to do something rather than telling them.”

Be a model

Whenever possible, show parents and guardians how to do something rather than telling them. Technology can help. Consider scheduling “demo” office hours via video conference to model the instructional strategies that work for you in class. Model spelling word practice, partner reading, or breaking down tough questions into smaller chunks. Parents and guardians who know what a “teacher move” looks like and sounds like will be more comfortable trying it out at home. Recorded webinars are another good option for demonstrating tips and tricks.

Normalize error

As teachers, we know that learning is a messy, frustrating process. Even in a classroom, kids misunderstand instructions. They forget to do things. They get overwhelmed. In your discussions with parents, guardians, and kids, remind them that this is normal. Emphasize that this will not be a perfect process, but affirm that trial and error can lead to improvements. If you can, give parents and guardians tangible strategies for supporting their child when kids get stuck (see the section on modeling above).

Spend extra time with families who need it most

This time is tough for all families. But for parents and guardians with students with special needs, isolation and the loss of support services can feel particularly devastating. Carve out some extra time to check-in with parents and guardians of students who need extra support. Make sure parents and guardians know that there are tools at their disposal. Use this time to preview upcoming instruction or demo an online learning tool that would help their child. Beyond this, listen closely when they tell you how their child is responding to this new way of learning. Then, consider what adjustments you can make on your end.


About Alyssa Owens

Alyssa Owens is a former English teacher and instructional coach. After a decade in New Orleans classrooms, Alyssa worked as a parent coach and advocate at Ednavigator, a non-profit that supports busy families with understanding their child’s educational health. She currently designs curriculum for job-training programs in Asia and Australia.