Topic 4: Family and Peers
This topic was centered around teen relationships and the changes in the dynamics of these relationships.
One of the most, if the the most, important relationships a teen has is that which he has with his parents. Parents exert a tremendous amount of influence on the behaviour and beliefs of an adolescent.
Thus, the question explored in this topic is: what is one specific way that I can build positive relationships with parents?
A website by the name "Reading Rockets" suggests that one of the most important things a teacher can do to establish positive relationships with parents is by keeping an open, transparent, and regular line of communication (WETA, 2015). This can be done by several means such as routine phone calls, emails, even extending a face-to-face meeting. The important thing is that they are regular.
A video on YouTube's TedTalks channel explores what it means to build parent-teacher relationships, and why they are so important. Guest speaker Megan Olivia Hall, a secondary science teacher illustrates that building positive relationships promotes community integration, rather than having parents feel their children go off to a disconnected, impersonal institution. Rather she advocates that promoting an open environment between parents and teachers promotes healthier student development (TedTalks, 2013).
Therefore, I would plan to send bi-weekly short summary reports of progress to the parents of my students. This will ensure that the parents are always informed and up-to-date on the academic achievement of their child. On top, I would occasionally call the parents to open up a line of communication between us in order to ensure good flow of dialogue.
Additional Resources
1. Building positive parent- teacher relationships: http://www.ldao.ca/introduction-to-ldsadhd/ldsadhs-in-depth/articles/about-lds/building-a-positive-parent-teacher-relationship/
2. Child development institute - how to establish a parent-teacher relationship: http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/parent_teacher/
3. It's a Wonderful Life - YouTube video about the traditional parent-teacher relationship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_xh0xdBO94
4. All Africa article about educating African teachers to establish relationships with parents: http://allafrica.com/stories/201505182787.html
References
TedTalks. (2013). Building relationships between parents and teachers: Megan Olivia Hall at TEDxBurnsvilleED. Retrieved May 24, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kin2OdchKMQ
WETA. (2015). Building Parent-Teacher Relationships. Retrieved May 24, 2015, from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/building-parent-teacher-relationships
Building Relationships between parents and teachers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kin2OdchKMQ