This document discusses characteristics of effective collaboration between parents and teachers. It identifies common goals, effective communication, cooperation, and problem solving as key characteristics. Specific strategies are provided, such as clearly defining roles, sharing ideas on teaching approaches, and developing learning activities that engage parents. The document also outlines ways to foster collaboration, such as building trust, making staff available, and promoting home and school connections. Potential ethical issues around values, social media use, and child abuse reporting are also addressed.

1. Collaboration
Corrina Nobis
EDUC/545
Family Engagement and Community Involvement
Rich Merlo

2. Characteristics of Effective Collaboration
● Common goal amongst stakeholders
● Effective Communication and Commitment
● Cooperation between parents and teachers
● Problem Solving (Ametia, 2013).

3. Common Goal Amongst Stakeholders
● Effective collaboration involves having a common
goal amongst stakeholders
● Strive to provide the best quality education for all
students, regardless of differences in race,
socioeconomic status, gender, etc.
● Educators and parents work to develop
curriculum areas that enhance student learning
(Amatea, 2013).

4. Effective Communication/Commitment
● Communication should be reciprocal and
involve a variety of methods such as face to
face conferences, phone calls, email, etc.
● All ideas should be considered and
respected.
● Communications must be warm and
welcoming (Ametia, 2013).

5. Communication/Commitment Continued
● Communication should promote a positive dialogue. It is
important to refrain from any forms of negativity that could
cause a break in communication and trust (Ametia, 2013).
Commitment
● Educators and parents pledge to work together for the
betterment of the school.
● The school commits to building relationships with all parents
regardless of their availability.
● Parents commit to supporting their students and the school in
delivering a comprehensive education (Ametia, 2013).

6. Cooperation between parents and teachers
● Clearly define roles and demonstrate how
everyone's role contributes to the success of the
students.
● Effectively share ideas on how to teach the
students within the school environment and home.
● Develop learning activities that give parents an
active role in the learning process (Ametia, 2013).

7. Problem Solving
● Educators and parents work together to establish
methods to solve problems
● Idea of problem solving is to keep communication and
school operation moving while navigating difficult
times.
● Collaboration stimulates discussion and the
development of new ideas that may solve the problems
that cause difficulty in schools (Ametia, 2013).

8. Ways to Foster Collaboration
Build trust between parents and schools
● Teachers should share ways for parents to support student learning.
Conversely, parents should provide information related to how their child
learns best
● Schools should openly share their policies (academic, disciplinary) to help
parents gain an understanding of how the school operates. This
information allows parents to support their students.
● Use surveys, home visits, town hall meetings, to gather information and
share ideas to enhance the functionality of school (Ametia, 2013).

9. Ways to Foster Collaboration
Availability of Staff
● Schools must consider the reality that some parents cannot come to
school for meetings due to various reasons (work, health, etc.)
● Traditional forms of parental communication (phone call, letter, email) are
appropriate to use.
● Schools may have to go beyond traditional methods of communication
and make home visits, poly conference calls if supported by technology,
or holding evening seminars at community centers for parents to attend if
transportation is not available (Ametia, 2013).

10. Approaches to Promote Home/School Connections
● Use inclusive opportunities such as a multicultural fair to promote cultural
education and acceptance among stakeholders.
● Foster parent involvement by planning activities in school and in the
community. This provides educators, parents, and the community
opportunities to discuss and explore solutions to social problems faced by
all.
● Invite parents to provide insight during staff development days and
participate in trainings geared toward helping students achieve (Ametia,
2013).

11. Ethical Issues
● Personal values and beliefs may present ethical problems. Issues such as
divorce, separation, raising children may make it difficult for school staff
to remain neutral.
● Using social media to communicate with students and parents is risky due
to confidentiality. Measures to protect sensitive information must be
taken to prevent unwanted disclosure of family and school issues.
● Suspected child abuse and neglect must be reported no matter how
strong the collaborative relationship between parent(s) and schools may
be (Zieger, 2017).

12. References
Amatea, E. S. (2013). Building culturally responsive family-school relationships (2nd ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Zieger, Stacey (2017). Professional Code of Ethics for Teachers. retrieved 01/20/2017, from Chron Web Site:
http://work.chron.com/professional-code-ethics-teachers-4132.html