Communication tools for teachers: a guide for improving teacher-parent communication

This graduate project focused on ways to improve teacher-parent communication through the use of various paper and electronic tools. The tools included in this project are part of my own communication system, as well as those of colleagues who were open and willing to share their time-tested and effective tools. Whether paper or electronic, the tools included in this project can be used by teachers in their own classrooms to enhance communication with parents, and each tool is ready for implementation. Tools were described in terms of purpose, grade-level applicability, type of communication (one- or two-way), frequency of use, and for electronic tools the device(s) required to utilize the tool. Each was rated according to the user-friendliness and educational benefit to the teacher scale developed for purposes of this project. The tools were organized by purpose (i.e., beginning of the year, homework, behavior, academic progress report, parent-teacher conference sign-up, etc.). The appendices contain a variety of both electronic and paper tools, with several examples of each that have been used effectively in classrooms. All communication tools included in this project are free of charge to ensure immediate implementation. The project concludes with a discussion of implications and suggestions for teachers in designing, implementing, and utilizing communication tools in order to improve teacher-parent communication.