The Bridge Between School and Home

School culture and home life can often feel like two different worlds for children. While neither is better than the other, building a bridge between school and home is crucial. This connection is fostered through effective communication and a shift towards a partnership mindset. Young Black students, in particular, might face various challenges in school, including (but not limited to):

• Not understanding what is being taught, because there is no cultural connection
• Not being understood when making connections, because of a cultural difference
• Curiosity around differences between point of views

The Bridge Between School and Home reveals how to connect school and home in alignment with your family values.

Collaborate with the teacher

Leveraging the teacher ultimately benefits your child’s education and overall well-being.  Getting to know your child’s teachers and understanding their perspectives is crucial. Ensuring these align with your family’s cultural values can be a game changer in addressing potential challenges. It helps you advocate for or against what your child is learning in the classroom.

Here are two primary ways to partner with your child’s teacher and build the bridge between school and home:

• Ask questions. Get to know your child’s teachers. Take opportunities such as parent teacher conferences, scheduled meetings and informal check-ins to educate them on your family values. Share how your family handles unique situations. Discuss how you’d like them to respond to your child’s behavior, whether positive or negative. Try not to leave room for assumptions, it is okay to be upfront and direct!
• Help with homework. Homework is a great way to build a bridge between school and home. Understand what’s being taught in your child’s classroom. Integrate it at home with real-world applications and cultural references to build a personal connection. This results in improved comprehension, increased motivation and greater inclusivity. Curriculums often cater to the majority, with limited diverse perspectives. The most important perspective is how your child sees themselves in what they are learning.

It’s a partnership mindset

Parents and caregivers know their children best, so teachers rely on your guidance to help them thrive. Your role is crucial in supplementing classroom teachings and ensuring your child sees themselves reflected in their learning. Use resources like school websites, district sites, and events to stay informed. When parents and schools collaborate, children are more likely to succeed academically and socially.