Collaborating with Families

You have begun to earn the trust of your student. In your work, you reach out to the family regularly with updates about student’s successes and with questions in an attempt to collaborate. The family hasn’t responded to the previous few messages you have sent.

A common assumption: The family is not concerned about working with the school collaboratively.

Reflect: How could this belief affect how I approach a family in a similar situation in the future?

Consider a Shift in Approach: You know that building a trusting relationship takes time, so you communicate through a few channels and ask family how they prefer to communicate with you.

What might happen if you ask the family, "What are your child's gifts, strengths, and talents?"