“Breaking Down that Barrier of Students and Teachers”: Teacher Perceptions of a Home Visit Program

• In Event: Home-school engagement and partnerships

Abstract

Teacher home-visits can strengthen relationships between family, school, and communities toward improving student experiences. Home visits can result in shifting school culture and create a welcoming and inclusive space, especially when schools recognize families’ funds of knowledge. This case study explores PreK-2 grade teachers’ and staff perceptions about the impact of a home-visit program on classroom behaviors, student well-being, and family engagement. Data sources included: survey, focus-group interviews, observations, and PBIS records. Findings show home-visits helped strengthen teacher-family and teacher-student relationships, but primarily focused on academic outcomes rather than student behavior or well-being. Unfortunately, teachers often held deficit views about students and families. This study highlights the need for culturally-responsive and restorative justice training for educators before they conduct home-visits.

Authors

• Pallavi Chhabra, Washington University in St. Louis

• Margaret K. Powers, Washington University in St. Louis

• Megumi Grace Hine, Washington University in St. Louis

• Katrina Harmon, Lindenwood University