As a Home Room Teacher of Grade 1 for past 4 years, I have experienced how important parent involvement is in a child’s growth and development. The following are some ways for parents and teachers to collaborate to enhance a child’s educational experience: 

• Effective communication: 

An effective two- way communication is essential for child learning. Parent teacher meetings or coffee meetings are a great opportunity for parents to communicate with the teachers and track their child’s academic and social performance. Also, these meetings are a great way to strengthen the parent and teacher bond. Ways of staying in touch and creating a positive two-way relationship include sending emails, messaging, volunteering for guest lectures and field trips. 

• Pursuing a collaborative and cooperative approach:

Collaboration and communication go hand in hand. If communication is strong, collaboration will be easier. A collaborative method indicates that both partners engage in joint effort on an equal footing with the goal of advancing the child’s learning, growth, and wellbeing. In the teacher-parent collaboration, it is important to be mindful that both have unique areas of knowledge and skill. Parents are well-versed with their child’s developmental history, interests and lifestyle. Teachers have the knowledge of teaching, assessment strategies and the child’s school performance. To assist the child’s academic success, parents and teachers should collaborate to share the knowledge. It entails connecting the child’s home and school learning processes. This aids parents in addressing the child’s learning difficulties and increasing their own learning.

• Facilitating and encouraging learning after school:

Being closely associated with the young students, I could easily sense and feel the necessity of learning after school. My personal observations show that students who practice ideas at home are considerably more confident and clearer when presenting their understanding. Parents can greatly benefit from teachers’ knowledge of their children’s talents when establishing home-learning environments. By talking with their children positively about school and teachers, creating a welcoming environment at home, and fostering their hobbies, parents may promote their children’s learning after school.Parents assist their children’s education when they are involved in their education. A child will learn more efficiently in school if they feel supported at home. Education is a crucial stage in a child’s growth and development. Together, parents and teachers should support the child’s physical, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing and work to create the best learning environment possible. 

Thus, parents and teachers must work together to create the optimal learning environment for children; neither can give the finest education for kids on their own. Parents involvement in academics helps students boost their self-esteem and improve their attitude towards schools and peers. It increases the ability of the child to build and maintain healthy relationships with peers and teachers. 

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” – Rachel Carson  

Thoughts by:

Aarti Negi

Home Room Teacher- Grade 1