How can you share resources and strategies with parents to help their children at home?

1 Understand the context

Before you share any resources or strategies with parents, try to understand their context and needs. What are their goals and concerns for their children? What are their preferred modes and times of communication? What are their cultural and linguistic backgrounds and preferences? What are the challenges and opportunities they face at home? By asking these questions and listening to their answers, you can tailor your communication and recommendations to their specific situation and avoid misunderstandings or assumptions.

2 Choose relevant and accessible resources

When you share resources with parents, make sure they are relevant and accessible for their children. For example, you can select resources that match the grade level, learning style, and interests of the students. You can also choose resources that are easy to use, understand, and access, such as online platforms, apps, videos, podcasts, or books. If possible, provide resources in multiple languages or formats to accommodate different needs and preferences. You can also explain how to use the resources and how they align with the curriculum and learning objectives.

3 Share strategies and examples

Besides sharing resources, you can also share strategies and examples that can help parents support their children's learning at home. For example, you can suggest ways to create a conducive learning environment, such as setting a routine, finding a quiet space, and minimizing distractions. You can also share tips on how to motivate, encourage, and praise the students, such as setting goals, celebrating achievements, and providing feedback. You can also share examples of how to engage the students in meaningful and fun activities, such as reading aloud, playing games, or doing projects.

4 Use multiple channels and formats

To reach and engage more parents, you can use multiple channels and formats to share resources and strategies. For example, you can use email, phone calls, text messages, newsletters, websites, or social media to communicate with parents. You can also use different formats, such as written, oral, visual, or interactive, to convey your message. You can also vary the frequency and length of your communication, depending on the purpose and urgency. For example, you can send a weekly email with a summary of the resources and strategies, and a monthly phone call with a more detailed discussion.

5 Invite feedback and collaboration

Finally, you can invite feedback and collaboration from parents to make your communication more effective and meaningful. You can ask parents for their opinions, questions, suggestions, or concerns about the resources and strategies you share. You can also ask them for their feedback on how their children are using and benefiting from the resources and strategies. You can also encourage them to share their own resources and strategies that they use or find helpful. By doing so, you can build trust, respect, and partnership with parents, and learn from their perspectives and experiences.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?