Home-School Communication: Perspectives From Teachers and Families

• In Event: Homes and Schools: Building Positive Relationships

Abstract

Two-way communication involves both participants feeling empowered to initiate and/or respond within communicative acts or honestly answer questions. In home-school partnerships this means both teachers and families feel empowered to begin conversations. This exploratory multi-case study examined teachers’ and parents’ communication expectations and preferences. Data sources included semi-structured interviews and artifacts for both groups of participants. There were no clear patterns across teachers, across parents, or across the groups. However, key themes emerged from the data: a lack of policy on communication, timing of communication, and notions of support. Ultimately, this phenomenon is nuanced and requires schools to reflect on their current communication practices and a have a willingness to consider something different, such as soliciting families’ communication preferences.

Author

• Laura Teichert, Western Michigan University