Home Visits

Excerpt from ABC's of Effective Parent Communication


Some principals require their teachers to conduct home visits before school begins. The thought behind this action is that it gives teachers a greater understand of their students' background and special needs. When visiting a student's home, the teacher can have an understanding of the financial and time resources available to the family as well as meet additional family members, and observe parent-child interactions within a comfortable setting for the family. This will help the teacher gain a more realistic picture of the student and his or her home life.



Other teachers like to conduct home visits, although not required by the principal, in order to meet his or her students and their parents in a more relaxed and non-threatening environment. The first day of school is often nerve-wracking enough without adding the extra stress of meeting people for the first time. By making a home visit, teachers can avoid this stress for both themselves and their students. An extra bonus is that students often come to class with much more enthusiasm than when the teacher is a complete stranger.


When making a home visit, be sure to schedule a time before hand rather than simply showing up on the doorstep. Some parents may not want to meet in their home. You might try asking to meet with them and your future student for coffee or desert at a nearby restaurant.


Don't forget about safety issues when making house calls. Be sure that at least one other person knows where you are. If you have a mobile phone or pager, keep it with you at all times. Use common sense when entering dangerous neighborhoods and consider pairing up with another teacher in the building in certain situations.


When meeting with the student and family, keep your conversation light and be sure to tell them all about yourself. They will be curious and will want to know as much as they can. Know ahead of time what you will and won't tell them so that you aren't caught off guard by questions. Allow the student and parents to lead the conversation at times.


One of the most vital issues with home visits and in working with students and parents is to be aware of your comments. Every comment and action has a consequence. That consequence can be either positive or negative. Be very careful in what you say and do.


As teachers, we must be aware of an acknowledge the variety of cultures we will encounter in our students and parents. Pull out your resources on diversity and multiculturalism, and brush up on your understanding of different cultures before making a home visit. You certainly want to keep students and parents comfortable and a wrong comment or action could jeopardize a positive relationship with both.


All in all, home visits can be a very positive experience and one that will help you get the year started off on the right foot. Teachers can gain very useful information to help them understand their students which will help in motivation, behavior issues, and achievement. Think carefully about this option as a tool for information as well as to help develop positive relationships before school ever starts.