Involving Marginalized Parents in the School

The communication between parents and teachers is critical for students learning and progress in school. When parents and teachers come to a mutual understanding of what's going on and what is expected from the learner, there is a higher chance that the student will perform better in class and actually learn to prioritize school. For example, at school, teachers will be able to conduct effective lesson plans and strategies based on the students' needs and any other information that the parent may share with the teacher. At home, parents can enhance their child's understanding by asking them what they've learned or did at school, going over homework with them, helping them study, or even reading over any instructions/newsletters from school.

However, what happens when the parent-teacher relationship is absent? Research shows that weak or non-existent connections between home and school may create suspicions, confusion, and misunderstandings between the teacher, the student, and the parent. Thus, the student will not benefit or progress from this kind of experience. Absence is especially present between teachers and marginalized families. This can be due to language barriers and difference in cultures/beliefs. Coming from a cultural background, I remember my mom barely speaking at parent teacher interviews, just a few nods, smiles, and "mhm's" would come out of her. I'm sure some of my past teachers probably thought my mom didn't want to get involved or even cared about building a relationship with them. However, as I got older, my mom explained to me that she would try not to speak too much around my teachers because she didn't want her accent and her "barely good English" place any bias views on me from my teachers. Believe it or not, a lot of other marginalized families feel the same way. They won't get involved and they won't ask the teacher any questions because they feel the teacher is superior to them and they assume the teacher is a lot more knowledgeable than them. Therefore, they are not obligated to interfere in any educational conversations, however, this is not true at all. 

So, what can teachers do to enhance the communication between marginalized families to advance students' learning?

•  Have more face to face meet ups such as open houses. Open houses tend to be less informal then parent teacher interviews which makes it easier to build communication, mutual understanding, and talk about any concerns/questions
• Call parents regularly to let them know how their child is doing (even and especially when they're doing great!)
• Host culture fest nights that involve celebrating different cultures and traditions, so parents are engaged and welcomed
• Ask parents if they would like to inform you on anything about their child or what they expect from their child at their level. This will help them feel included and they'll feel appreciated 

Linda @NU