Maintaining Strong Family Partnerships Year-Round

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that building a strong relationship with parents can make or break your school year. I used to think that if I just taught well enough, everything else would fall into place. Turns out, strong instruction helps, but strong partnerships transform everything.

building connections at the Beginning of the year

I started building these connections before the first bell even rang. My goal in reaching out to parents was never to create more work for myself or to expect families to do everything I do in the classroom. It was to build trust early and often, so we were rowing in the same direction. Over the years, I learned that when parents understand what learning looks like, why we teach the way we do, and how their child is experiencing school, everything improves. Classroom culture strengthens. Curriculum makes more sense. Small problems stay small problems.

Home visits. Each summer, I pick up the phone and call every family, not to introduce myself over voicemail or check off a list, but to ask if I can come for a visit. Most parents are surprised. Some even ask, “Wait, you want to come here?” When I arrive, I bring a small PowerPoint showing what the classroom looks like and invite them to ask questions, because not every parent can attend open house. I want them to know what their child’s everyday world looks like. I also help them set up PowerSchool, our grading and attendance app, so they can receive real-time updates. It’s my way of saying, “Let’s not wait until report cards to talk.”

Positive phone call home. The first week of school flies by in a blur of names and routines. But on Friday afternoon, I make it a point to sit at my desk and start dialing. One by one, I call each parent. I don’t do it because something’s wrong, but because something’s right. Every call includes a positive comment about their child. I never want parents to see the school’s number and immediately panic. I want them to think, "Oh, this is going to be good."

Maintaining Connections Throughout the Year

I don’t expect parents to have all the answers or to hover over homework every night. I want them to show up by asking questions, having conversations with their child, and knowing they are welcome partners in the learning process. The strategies I use are not a checklist or a requirement. They are options that teachers can consider, knowing that even one connection can change the tone of an entire school year.

Photos of students learning. Throughout the year, my phone is practically glued to ClassDojo and Remind. When a student is working hard, leading an activity, or simply smiling while reading, I take a quick photo and send it. Parents love those glimpses, those seconds where the school day slips into their world at work, at the grocery store, waiting in the car line for a sibling.

Friday communication. Every Friday evening, I compile five photos into a little PicCollage titled “Five Photos in Five Days.” No captions. Just images of the class. It’s not for me to explain. It’s for their child to narrate when they get home.

On Fridays, I also send a message outlining what we learned that week, but in parent language. Instead of writing, “Students worked on 3.NBT.A.2,” I write, “This week, we practiced dividing a three-digit number by a one-digit number.” That often leads to follow-ups like, “My child struggled with this.” And that’s valuable because sometimes kids don’t tell us what they’re afraid to admit.

Pizza and problem-solving night. Math, of course, is often the biggest hurdle. Not for the kids, but for the parents. Since it’s taught differently now, I host “Pizza and Problem Solving” nights twice a year. Parents come into the classroom, sit in their child’s seat, and work through problems exactly as students do. It’s amazing how much confidence they leave with. Especially when they realize that it’s not about the way they learned, but the way their child learns today.

Parent survey. Each month, I send home a short survey through Google Forms. It asks how the year is going and gives parents a chance to voice concerns about academics, friendships, or anything they feel their child is experiencing. If I learn someone is struggling with a concept or a peer relationship, I adjust, reteach, or hold a class conversation. Feedback isn’t just collected and tossed aside. It’s used.

One year, a parent shared through a survey that their child was frustrated with math but felt embarrassed asking questions in class. The grades didn’t yet show a problem, but the feedback mattered. I adjusted my approach by building in more low-pressure ways to ask for help and by modeling mistakes openly. Within weeks, the student’s confidence improved, and the parent shared that the math was no longer a daily struggle at home. Parent feedback often helps us see what data alone cannot.

Progress report. I also print monthly progress reports, even though parents have access to PowerSchool. Realistically, not everyone checks the app daily. A paper copy tucked into a planner is a gentle reminder: We’re paying attention. Here’s where we are. Let’s talk before it becomes a surprise.

Personal notes. And then, twice a year, once in December and again in June, I write each family a personal note. Nothing fancy. Usually, an index card. Just a sincere reflection: what I love about their child, the joy they bring to our classroom, and the moments that made me smile.

family engagement strategies that fit your teaching style

I’ll be the first to admit: It’s hard to do all of these things. I don’t expect every teacher to. But I’ve learned that doing even a few makes a world of difference. Because when parents know you care about their child, they’re not just supporters of your classroom.

When I worked with student teachers, I was careful to stress that none of these strategies were expectations or requirements. Instead, I encouraged them to find the ones that felt authentic and manageable for them. Some were comfortable making phone calls. Others preferred written communication or sharing photos. What mattered most was not how many strategies they used, but that they chose approaches that fit their personality and teaching style. Strong parent partnerships are built on consistency and sincerity, not exhaustion or imitation.