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, use these helpful resources for planning your first parent-teacher conferences. They include sample forms, suggestions for the arranging the setting, and advice on conducting the conference.
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.
Articles
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.
 Articles Policies & Practices: Family Communication Ideas That Really WorkGrades: PreK–K Here's how to open lines of communication with parents, ones that will last all year long and that will lead to relationships that are respectful... |
Articles Observing and Recording Growth and ChangeGrades: PreK–K As an educator who is committed to providing the strongest learning experiences possible, as well as searching for new ways to grow professionally... |
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 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. |
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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. |
Articles Teacher Tip: Handing Parent MeetingsGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Review some tips for handling parent-teacher meetings. |
 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... |
Policies & Practices: Successful Parent ConferencesGrades: PreK–K Wilford discusses the wide variety of approaches to conferencing with parents that can be seen in early childhood centers and schools. |
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Articles Parent Conferences: Take-HomeGrades: 3–5, 6–8 New teachers, make a board that you can use to organize take-home notes. First year teachers will also find these that these ideas come in handy... |
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... |
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Articles Speaking Their LanguageGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Follow these simple steps for communicating with parents whose first language is not English, so that you can encourage families to support... |
 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... |
Assessment Guru Grant Wiggins on Measuring Student ProgressGrades: Assessment Guru Grant Wiggins offers advice on measuring student progress. focuses on expanding the assessment repertoire to include profiles of... |
Articles Planning the ConferenceGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Provides critical steps to planning an effective parent-teacher conference, like preparing an agenda that you share with parents beforehand. |
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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... |
 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. |
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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.... |
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... |
 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... |
Articles Teacher Tips for Successful Parent-Teacher ConferencesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Seasoned teachers share their secrets on how to prepare for parent-teacher conferences. Suggestions focus on how to present strengths and... |
