Teachers may find that an unusual but effective way to increase student test scores and increase parental participation is to visit parents at home. These home visits may have teachers going out of their way, but it may be the only contact they have with some parents.
The Benefit of Home Visits
When teachers take time to go to the student’s home and develop relationships with the parents, the students will have more involved better equipped parents. Through relationship building conversation, teachers can help parents understand the importance of education as well as strategies to help their children at home. Researchers have found that in elementary schools, both reading and math test scores improved in one home visit program in California.
As parents become more involved through these home visits, there may be increased parental involvement at school functions as well as a higher number of parent volunteers. Even if parents do nothing extra at school, the more involved they are with their children, the fewer discipline problems students will have and the more engaged and attentive they will be in class.
How to Conduct Home Visits
Teachers should optimally strive to visit each student’s parents at home twice a year. The first visit should occur early on in the school year in order to meet the parents and begin that relationship. Visits should be scheduled by the teachers, at the parent’s home and at a time convenient to the parents. Home visits should last anywhere from 30-90 minutes depending on the parent’s schedule.
The purpose of these visits is to develop a relationship with the parents. This relationship needs to be child-centered and focused on investing in the parent and child’s life. Teachers should be able to share information about the child’s educational progress with the parents as well as suggestions for parents to help the child at home.
How Can School Administration Support Home Visits?
School administration can support their teachers in this endeavor by minimizing after school staff meetings and freeing up this time for teachers to spend traveling to parent homes. If funds are available, a gas stipend may be helpful as well. Teachers that are concerned about safety can pair up and visit parents in teams of two or three as schedules permit.
Teachers visiting parents at home may not be the norm, but it may be the solution to an increasingly difficult population to involve in school life. Administration should step up and encourage teachers to take on home visits and provide any support possible. Teachers who are willing to take this step will likely see positive results in the classroom as a result.
Read more ideas on how to get parents involved at school.
Reference: Francis, Ryan.“Home-Grown Students: Program Bridges Gap Between School and Home” Education World, 2006.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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