Article by Kelly McCandless

“WHEN PARENTS AND TEACHERS WORK TOGETHER, THE STUDENT SEES THEM AS A TEAM, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN’T TRIANGULATE, AND THEY’RE SUPPORTED IN BOTH SPACES”

-Kristin Colloton

Education is most kids’ first “job.” They report to class, complete tasks, and are evaluated on outcomes. It’s a formative time in terms of development and academics. While school shapes our children, they also absorb a lot at home. For both home and school to serve children best, it’s critical to strike a healthy balance in which parents and teachers are on the same page.

To help outline the importance of parents and teachers taking a unified approach to education, we spoke with Kristin Colloton, LCSW, with Billings Catholic Schools. Colloton serves as the school counselor for kindergarten through fourth-grade students and is passionate about supporting students and connecting families with the school.

IMPORTANCE OF A UNIFIED APPROACH

According to Colloton, parents and guardians are the most important partners in the educational journey, and their collaboration is critical in supporting a child’s academic journey. Colloton noted that a team approach helps children feel confident in their education and develop emotional security, which leads to better learning outcomes.

Colloton further defined how consistency between home and school helps children feel stable, which decreases anxiety because they understand expectations in both places and don’t deal with unpredictability. “Change feels scary. When things feel predictable, we feel confident and focus better. We’re more likely to push ourselves and try harder things, and our confidence increases,” Colloton said, emphasizing that these things are important for adults as much as children.

ESTABLISHING OPEN COMMUNICATION

In addition to consistency, open communication is key to the home and school relationship. While teachers use different communication tools, parents and guardians should understand how the teacher will get in touch and how they can contact the teacher. Many classrooms in early grades utilize SeeSaw and Remind apps, which allow for frequent check- ins. Parents and guardians can see assignments and message teachers directly with questions or concerns. Older grades often see independent students, and parents need to be proactive to push for communication. Parents can often show their children what they see from school so everyone is on the same page.

Colloton also highly recommends volunteering in your child’s classroom. “Parents can help their kiddo’s teacher, read to the class, do recess duty, or even be a substitute teacher. The support is awesome for teachers and really helps parents to understand what is happening in school.”

Finally, be on the lookout for information from the school in general. Billings Catholic Schools send regular newsletters, have calendars for all grades, and send regular reminders at home.

LISTEN

Most important is listening to each other’s concerns and sharing observations about the child’s behavior or development. Sometimes, these conversations can be difficult, so Colloton recommends establishing a neutral agreement with expectations and goals for the discussion. Teachers should ask questions about how they can support the child, and everyone should commit to approaching topics with curiosity and eagerness to help.

“If there are things happening at home that impact a student, we need to have those conversations with our teachers so they can be aware and look for behaviors,” Colloton explained. She stressed the importance of remembering that younger children are likelier to act out than to explain their feelings. “A teacher can be better equipped to help if they know the contributing factors,” she continued.

UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER

Parents and teachers have distinct yet complementary roles in a child’s education. Teachers work to get to know their students, using “about my student” worksheets and creating opportunities to meet families during supply drop- offs, conferences, or events. Parents should make every effort to prioritize these opportunities and share what helps their kiddos succeed. “Don’t just share consequences,” Colloton highlighted, “share what motivates your kid so their teacher can use those tools.” It’s also important to respect each other’s expertise; teachers are educational guides, and parents are the child’s first and lifelong educators. Finally, parents should never forget that they know their child best. If something seems off or isn’t working well, be an advocate and connect with their teacher as a partner to create solutions.

Additionally, Colloton shared a few critical reminders. “Whenever a parent comes in to see me for mental health, I highlight three things: Is the kiddo getting enough sleep? What does their screen time look like? And I remind them that fifteen minutes of one-on-one time is one of the most important things to help a child feel connected.” She also noted that kids often tell her they wish their grownups would put down their own screens and listen to them.

Parents and teachers must work together every year and in every grade. Kids want to be successful, and effective communication, trust, and a unified approach will ensure that each year goes smoothly.

What should you ask during a parent-teacher conference?

• Ask about individual and whole class rewards to understand how the teacher motivates the students.
• Understand the expectations in the classroom and how they are shared with the students to help enforce them at home.
• Ask for advice or guidance on how to support your child with homework while ensuring it’s child-led.
• Ask how you can support the teacher.

What do kids think parents should know?

Mrs. Vaira’s 4th-grade students from St. Francis weigh in – and their advice is excellent!

• “Parents should think about how parents help them and help their teachers.”
• “Limit screen time, and no saying you can’t do it!”
• “A lot of times, you just have cereal that’s not good for you for breakfast; we need a healthy breakfast before school.”
• “Go to sleep earlier!”
• “Pay more attention on reading instead of screen time.”
• “Do flash cards at home.”
• “Parents should make sure kids don’t wake up at 3am and start playing video games!”
• “When kids are worried about something, comfort them and tell them you are there for them.”
• “Pay attention to what they are doing in school.”

Originally printed in the February 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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