Teachers need to be prepared to build partnerships with several parents and family members who are active in a child’s life in different configurations and are concerned about the child’s development, education, and future. Why is it important to build partnerships and how can teachers do that?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER: Family members are the most important people in children’s lives. They know their children well, and their preferences and choices matter. Excellent teachers work hard to develop reciprocal relationships with families, with communication and respect in both directions. Teachers can get parental and family input as they plan activities and services; build a sense of trust; create a family/parent bulletin board or information sheet on the door of the classroom; post weekly lesson plans and weekly menu of lunch and snacks on the classroom door? use email newsletters written in the family’s language? include family as members on the program’s governing or advisory groups?
family meals; open houses; meetings; family/teacher conferences; and invite families to share their talents and plan activities.