By increasing parent engagement, teachers gain a better understanding of student’s needs and the family’s environment, which they can apply to better address these needs. When teachers encourage parents to get involved both in class and at home, students are better able to succeed in their academic efforts (Valentine & Prater, 2021). When staff members actively communicate with families through the communication channels they prefer, they can explain to parents what happened during a child’s day and how he or she is developing (Valentine & Prater, 2021). When communication with parents is effective, Early Childhood educators are able to learn about what is going on in the child’s home, as well as what their family would like the child’s behaviors to be when in our care.

Weekly Mailchimp

Weekly Mailchimp will allow the family to engage in their children’s education. The families will receive a weekly email with a summary of the content learned during the week, along with sample works and pictures of the week. This will let parents be involved and connected with their children’s education. In times of uncertainty, it is essential for parents to feel still involved in their child’s school.

Class Dojo

ClassDojo is a free app for families and teachers and is perfect for preschoolers’ children as I can use it to reward children’s skills by assigning points based on their effort and daily work. This app allows children to share their achievements and daily work through picture messages. Also, I can share photos, videos, and announcements on Class Story or send private messages. Parents can easily join the class using their phones, tablet, or computer. Something significant is that ClassDojo automatically translates messages into more than 30 languages, so I can communicate even if the families don’t speak English.

Phone Calls / Emails

When making calls to share positive messages with parents, prepare for them to sound surprised and happily surprised. Every so often, a quick call or email to update parents about the children’s progress and share what ideas and strategies are working well. It is essential to use different communication platforms to share positive news so parents can celebrate their children’s achievements and positive actions. I’ll share messages about children’s best work and achievements through regular communication with parents. Parental involvement is an essential factor that helps students become engaged with learning, and communication between parents and teachers is one critical aspect of promoting parental engagement.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences will be a formal way of communication. During the conferences, I will talk to the families about their child’s growth and development. Conferences can help parents understand what assessments their children will take by planning for communicating with parents through various mediums. By providing opportunities for parents to learn about and evaluate their child’s efforts, signs of progress, and achievements over time, engaging parents in assessments can give teachers helpful insights that will assist with each child’s learning process. Communication among schools, parents/caregivers, students, and teachers is crucial in ensuring that all know what needs to be done, by whom, and how. Also, during conferences, the families will be able to communicate in the language they feel most comfortable with. As a bilingual educator, I know the importance of communication.