Special Topics for School Social Workers
Communicate with parents frequently, using a variety of methods
Develop and use a home-to-school/ school-to-home communication system, using methods that work best for specific parents and teachers (mail, the phone, email, communication notebooks, face-to-face meetings).
Ensure that parent contact information is up to date so that communication flows.
Encourage regular use of school and classroom newsletters, web pages, blogs, monthly calendar of events.
Inform parents about and assist them in using online classrooms such as Iready, Thinkcentral Practice and Fsassessments.org.
Offer materials in other languages for parents of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students.
Send letters to parents or offer information online but follow up with personal contact to ensure effective communication.
Conduct home visits by special educators and administration when necessary.
Offer events such as “Cake with the Counselor,” “Coffee with the Principal,” or “Parents and Pastries” to encourage communication between parents and their child’s school.
Have teachers or students write out homework assignments and/or daily progress reports for parents to sign to ensure parents are aware of assignments and are able to monitor their child’s learning at home.
Deliver weekly reports of progress and suggested home follow-up to parents of students who are receiving speech, physical, or occupational therapy services.
Encourage group meetings with therapists, counselors, teachers, administrators and parents, and frequent contact between case managers and parents.
Make contact with parents and families prior to the beginning of the school year.
Create smaller class sizes in order to give teachers more time to communicate with parents.
Encourage all school personnel to take an interest in children with disabilities.
Inform parents about and invite them to Special Education Advisory Committee Meetings.
Arrange for ConnectEd-calls (automated telephone calls to all families) to be made for important information or alerts (upcoming exams, parent-teacher conferences, school holidays).