Teaching Themes
Parent-Teacher Communications: Everything You Need
A collection of effective resources, ideas, and practices for keeping parents informed and involved all year long
Articles
Planning for Parent Conferences
Grades: 3–5, 6–8
If you're a new teacher about to hold you first parent-teacher conferences, use these helpful resources for planning. They include sample forms, suggestions for the setting arrangement, and advice on conducting the conference. First year teachers can use them for years to come.
Articles
Top 5 Ways to Use Parent Volunteers!
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5
See strategies that work such as deputizing a class mom and hosting monthly family nights.
Five Keys to Successful Parent-Teacher Communication
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8
Ongoing, clear lines of communication at the beginning of the year mean fewer problems later in the year.
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Articles Policies & Practices: Family Communications - Ideas That Really WorkGrades: Early Childhood, Infant, PreK–K During this time of parent conferences and open houses, teachers need to keep in mind that communication must happen all year long. To open lines of... |
Articles Teaching Tip: Quick and Easy Parent CommunicationGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 A teacher reveals the convenience and benefits of communicating with parents via postcards. |
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Articles Tracking Students' Progress With PortfoliosGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Take a look at three great methods of showcasing a student's accumulated work. |
Collections Guide to Parent-Teacher ConferencesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Articles and other resources on parent conferences, from making prepartions and explaining students' progress to writing report cards. |
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Articles Top 5 Ideas for Parents'NightGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 From tempting potential volunteers with treats to using photos to give parents a peek into their child's school day, see how you can make a... |
Articles Involving Students in Parent-Teacher ConferencesGrades: 3–5, 6–8 If you're a first year teacher, the buzz about standardized tests may have you nervous. A third-grade teacher explains how she keeps the focus on... |
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Articles Year-Long Plan for Maintaining Good Parent-Teacher CommunicationGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 A first-grade teacher explains how she keeps parents actively involved from day one. |
Collections Parent Communication StrategiesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Effective practices, strategies, and tips for keeping parents informed and involved all year long. |
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Articles Teaching Tip: Creative Communication with CaregiversGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Appear more approachable and encourage parents to contact you by adopting these eight tips. |
Articles Communicating With Parents in PicturesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Teacher advisor Jeremy Brunaccioni explains to new teachers how a digital camera helped him grab parents'attention. First year teachers will learn... |
Teaching Tip: Newsletters Made EasyGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Here are step-by-step instructions on how to create and use a newsletter template to keep in touch with 25-30 different households. |
Articles Keeping High School Parents Involved & InformedGrades: 6–8, 9–12 Nicole Sledge, our high school teacher advisor, provides practical strategies and tools. These tips help the new teacher maintain parent... |
Tough Talks: When Parents Won't Get InvolvedGrades: PreK–K Politis presents several suggestions-things to consider for parents who choose not to be involved in school activities. She stresses to keep in mind... |
Respect for ParentsGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 A special education teacher stresses the importance of positive communication with parents and caregivers of special needs children facing... |
We're All Welcome HereGrades: A wealth of teacher-tested ideas for drawing all families into the school community. |
A Few Tips for Parent Meetings (Teacher Tip)Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Review some tips for handling parent-teacher meetings. |
Building Strong Relationships With ParentsGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Weve compiled a list of resources that focus on building mutual trust with parents. Contents include professional articles on parent-teacher... |
Articles 9 Techniques for Building Solid Parent-Teacher RelationshipsGrades: Early Childhood, PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 New teachers perk up your ears. Middle school teacher Kechia Williams explains how a variety of communication methods keep parents connected.... |
10, 9, 8…Countdown to Open School NightGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Is open school night fast approaching? Here are 44 tips, activity ideas, and last-minute reminders to guarantee a great back-to-school celebration... |
Articles Top 5 Ideas for Open HouseGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Great open house ideas for new teachers. First year teachers, see how an open house night can provide opportunities for teachers to gain parents'... |


















