ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines how positive family teacher relationships benefit us, as teachers, by decreasing children's challenging behaviors in class. It offers ways to increase student performance and ease relationships with families. The chapter sets in the context of modern United States family life and offers strategies to create and maintain positive teacher/family relations. As a teacher, they are primarily responsible for children's learning. Why take on the burden of collaborating with children's families? As teachers, their capacity to strive toward cultural competence will influence the relationships they build with families and ultimately the success of their empathetic relationships with children. Children with strong positive connections between home and school behave better in class and achieve at higher academic levels. One benefit of the necessity of ensuring the safe drop off and pick up of children each day is the opportunity for brief interactions between the family and teacher.
