Reach out.

Conversations with Parents

Talking to your students' parents can be a valuable opportunity for everyone involved. As an educator, you see your students during the day, but their parents are the most influential figures in their lives outside the classroom. Encourage them to stay involved with their child's day-to-day life, both personally and academically. Remind them just how influential they can be in establishing good study habits and maintaining a healthy, positive environment in the home. Together, those factors can make a big difference in a student's outlook and potential with college on the horizon.

Engaging Parents

The key to engaging parents is building relationships — instead of simply reporting on their child's progress in the classroom, it's about welcoming parents as partners in their child's achievements. Be willing to reach out and meet parents where they are (even outside school, if they're unable to come to you), whether they have questions and concerns about college in particular or simply want to know what might be possible for their son or daughter in the future. Your effort to communicate personally with parents will encourage greater involvement both at school and at home, giving students their best chances of success.