Connecting Parents to the Classroom

As I have already established in my other posts, I believe that students should be children first. As such, it is certain that much learning takes place within the home. Parents are the primary teachers. They were there in the beginning and will be there until the end shaping their children. Therefore, it only makes sense that parents be involved with the formal education process. I think it would be a very good idea for teachers to get to know their students' family before the children step foot into a classroom. This would include the parents more, and help foster a relationship with the teacher. A relationship between the parents and the teacher is not always guaranteed but comes in handy when discussing appropriate learning styles, discipline, coaching procedures, etc. Also, it helps the teacher understand the home dynamic, so that he/she knows how to further help the student succeed. If meeting the parents is out of the question, I believe blogs, phone calls, emails, etc. could be useful tools to help the parents feel "in the loop." After all, children spend like eight hours a day with their teacher, which is more than many parents feel they have with their children. Because it is important for parents to be involved in their childrens' lives, a relationship with someone who sees them as (or almost as) much as they do is beneficial.