Truth #3: Communication with parents must be carefully planned and two-way.

As important as newsletters, calendars, notes, and even the school website are in providing information to parents (and they are helpful), you do not have true communication with parents unless you get some feedback.  You have to know the people you are talking to and find ways to connect.  With parent conferences (usually requested by the teacher) and our Leader In Me  Student Led conferences, we have established more communication with our parents.  Utilizing our Voice to Voice contact each semester has also helped to foster good communication.

Today's parents are known as "Generation X".  Here are a few characteristics of Generation X:

• They have grown up hearing about "failing schools".
• They don't trust institutions to always do what is right; they don't trust that their children are always safe at school.
• They expect to communicate instantly with you.
• They expect a well designed web site with information on ways they can help their children succeed.
• They expect to hear about school problems immediately--along with what is being done about them.
• They value their time very highly and don't want it wasted with school activities that don't directly involve them or their child.

Tips for Newsletters for Parents to boost "readership":

• Standardize one design and stick with it.  Two or three columns are often easier to read than a single wide one.
• Use an attractive newsletter nameplate to reflect the professionalism of your school or class.
• Use simple, plain language and limit the newsletter to one sheet of paper.

Out of all of the various ways we provide information to our parents at LES, which one do you feel promotes effective communication (parent feedback) and why?  Are there any other "avenues" of communication you feel that we should incorporate to promote feedback from parents?