Building Bridges: Trust, Collaboration, and Shared Purpose in Jewish Day Schools
February 4, 2025
Customer Service and the Tuition Crisis
February 4, 2025
Mrs. Besie Katz
In today’s educational landscape, the partnership between home and school is vital in fostering student achievement and social/emotional development. In this essay, we will address why it is so important to develop this relationship and offer some suggestions for enhancing collaboration between parents and teachers, as well as the roles that parents and teachers play in promoting a successful relationship.
The involvement of parents and teachers helps foster an environment conducive to learning, personal growth, and social development. Educators have increasingly realized the importance of building strong, positive relationships between schools and families.
The Importance of a Warm Relationship Between Home and School
It has been acknowledged that parental involvement will have a positive impact on student performance. Involvement can include attending parent-teacher conferences, supporting homework completion, and engaging in educational activities in the home. For example, having children review the weekly Parsha at the Shabbos table connects the parents to the rebbi or morah. The child can then go back to school after Shabbos and make the rebbi or morah aware that he reviewed the Parsha that was taught in school. The rebbi or morah, parents, and child feel a sense of connection.
A supportive home-school relationship contributes to a child’s emotional well-being. When parents and teachers work together, they are better able to identify and address any emotional or behavioral issues that may arise. The parents and teachers can share perspectives, which will help resolve the situation. Children who see their parents and teachers communicate and cooperate are more likely to feel secure and valued. This sense of security contributes to greater self-confidence and a positive attitude toward school, which, in turn, supports academic and personal growth.
When parents and teachers are in sync with their goals for the child’s success, there is a sense of shared purpose. This, in turn, helps establish an environment in which students feel valued, supported, and respected by both parents and teachers. Engaged parents send the message to their children that school and learning are important. The school and home are motivated to do what is necessary for the child, and the child is motivated to actualize his/her potential.
Practical Strategies for Cultivating Home-School Relationships:
Building relationships is not easy. How do the home and school work together to accomplish this? I recommend schools focus on four areas to cultivate great home-school relationships: gathering data, effective communication, involving parents in the school, and supporting parents.
Gathering Data
Working together on behalf of the child takes effort, mutual respect, and, most importantly, a clear understanding of who the child is. The teacher needs to collect all pertinent objective data to have a clear understanding of the innate abilities and/or challenges of the child. Report cards, standardized testing, and psychological testing are all sources from which a teacher can draw comprehensive information.
Each child is a unique diamond with many facets and needs to be polished in such a way as to bring out their full luster. Children have different learning and emotional profiles. Some students need academic modifications, others may need social skills to be honed by a social worker on staff, and yet others may need help to navigate challenges at home. חנוך לנער על פי דרכו… (משלי) – “Teach each child according to his way” is not an aphorism; it is a mandate to be fulfilled by anyone who teaches a child.
The teacher must, therefore, understand the strengths as well as the vulnerabilities of each student. He must have a clear plan of approach, realizing that “one size does not fit all.” The more information the teacher has about each child, the better the teacher can differentiate.
Gathering information is but the first step. The next step is the centerpiece around which information becomes meaningful.
Effective Communication
This is probably one of the most constructive ways to build a warm relationship between the home and school. Communication must be clear, consistent, and honest. Parents and teachers do not intend to be dishonest, but they sometimes speak to each other in veiled terms. Perhaps the teacher does not want to disclose information that may anger or hurt the parent, and the parent may not want to share information for fear of creating a negative impression about the child. Parents and teachers must be forthright and factual. There is only one shared goal: setting up the child for success!
There may be times when the parents and teacher do not agree on the best way to handle a situation. Each feels they know the child and what would be in his best interest. This is where mutual respect and trust enter. The parents and teacher need to listen to one another with an open mind. There may be factors that were not considered by either party, giving each of them an added perspective. With enhanced clarity, understanding, and flexibility in thinking, a mutually agreed-upon solution can be crafted.
It is also important to remember that calling a parent requires sensitivity. There is nothing more precious to parents than their child. That is why words must be chosen carefully and with understanding.
Communication happens at various times of the school year and on different levels. Here are three communication milestones to focus on:
- Before school starts
Teachers should call the parents to introduce themselves. This initial call should be upbeat, exuding enthusiasm and excitement, and it should also be brief. If a parent wants to talk more about her child or if the teacher needs more information, agree on a time for a meeting to discuss the child further. This will reassure the parents that the teacher cares, planting the seeds of partnership.
- During the school year
Teachers should make occasional “nachas” calls, demonstrating to the parents and child that he is understood, valued, and appreciated. These calls go a long way in generating goodwill and opening channels of communication and collaboration.
- Back-to-School Night
This is an opportunity to set the tone of positivity. A teacher’s classroom is a window through which the parents can understand and experience their child’s daily world, so the way it is set up will convey a strong message. A well-decorated and organized classroom inspires confidence that the teacher cares for and wants their students to flourish in an environment conducive to productive learning.
During the Back-to-School Night presentation, the teacher should outline clearly the academic and behavioral expectations of the students. Parents can then support and reinforce these expectations at home. Teachers can also share strategies for handling difficult behavior or promoting positive habits, allowing parents to be consistent in their approach.
Involving Parents in School
Parental involvement does not have to focus on the parent’s child alone. Parents should be encouraged to become involved in the PTO and invited to volunteer in the classrooms or serve as chaperones on school trips. Participating in school activities will make parents feel respected, valued, and gratified as they become contributing members of the school community. They will also see firsthand how all the interlocking pieces of a school come together to create the best environment possible for the children. Appreciation and gratitude will further cement a positive relationship between home and school.
Supporting Parents
Parents are key partners in their child’s education, but they may not always know how to best support their child’s learning. Schools should recognize that parents, like teachers, are educators in their own right and empower them to work symbiotically with the teacher. If there is a solid relationship between the parent and the teacher, the teacher can provide guidance and resources to assist the parent. The more parents have in their “tool kit,” the better they can help their children, leading them down the path of success. When parents feel supported in their role, they are more likely to feel confident in engaging with the school and advocating for their child’s needs.
If a teacher needs to communicate a challenge, they should always be prepared to offer a recommendation to the parent based on best practice or experience. By making a recommendation, they enter into a dialogue with the parents and work together to produce a resolution. After making the recommendation, the teacher should listen carefully so that the path forward is collaborative and set up for success.
Developing a positive home-school relationship is a dynamic process that requires effort, commitment, and mutual respect from both parents and educators. When these relationships are nurtured, students benefit from a consistent, supportive environment that fosters academic success, social and emotional growth, and behavioral development. By prioritizing open communication, understanding, and shared goals, parents and teachers can create an environment where students thrive both at home and at school. Ultimately, a strong home-school relationship is one of the most powerful tools in a child’s educational journey.
Mrs. Besie Katz has been in the field of chinuch for many years. In her early years, she taught all subjects, limudei kodesh and chol, in the elementary grades. In 1982, with siyata dishmaya, Mrs. Katz helped found what is known today as Politz Yeshiva and Bais Yaakov in Philadelphia. PA. Politz Yeshiva and Bais Yaakov services approximately 400 students.