ABSTRACT

It is essential that we work together to craft powerful parent-teacher partnerships that meet the needs of today’s students and schools. In this important new book, authors Robert Dillon and Melissa Nixon explain how schools and families can work together so that the needs of children are always met. Whether you’re a parent hoping to work more effectively with your child’s teacher, or a principal or teacher looking for ways to understand families’ needs, you’ll be able to use the strategies in this resource to improve your communication and build deeper connections.

Loaded with practical takeaways and sample stories, this book will help you:

  • Clearly communicate a child’s educational goals;
  • Make connections with other schools and school districts to build community and broaden your range of resources;
  • Hold educators accountable without alienating them;
  • Develop communication strategies to address difficult topics like underperformance and misbehavior;
  • Show compassion and gratitude;
  • And more!

With the practical suggestions in this book, you’ll be able to rekindle more engagement and excitement into students' learning at school and at home.

chapter |2 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|9 pages

Forgetting About the Past

How Do I Use My School Experience To Guide My Parenting?

chapter 2|9 pages

Overcoming the Barriers of Partnership

What Steps can we Take to Best Partner for our Students?

chapter 3|8 pages

Trusting Your Learning Community

How do I Know that the People in My School are Trustworthy?

chapter 4|8 pages

Caring About the Right Things

When Everything is Important, What Matters Most?

chapter 5|9 pages

Holding Your School Accountable

How Can We Demand Excellence in a Kind Way?

chapter 6|8 pages

Asking the Right Questions

The Art of Knowing the Right People and Being Involved the Right Amount

chapter 7|9 pages

Surrounding Kids with the Help They Need

How Do I Know What Resources are Available to Support My Child?

chapter 8|9 pages

Apples to Apples to Oranges—Comparison Done Right

Does Comparing Ourselves With Others Help Our Parent Partnership?

chapter 9|10 pages

Having a Plan B

What Can We Do When Our Schools Make Mistakes?

chapter 10|7 pages

Dreaming Big

How Can Sharing Your Family Dreams Support School Partnerships?

chapter 11|8 pages

Sharing the Excellent Part of the School

A Successful School has a Compelling Story on How it Supports Learning

chapter |8 pages

Conclusion