Although most parents and teachers are used to having a relatively informal relationship limited primarily to infrequent phone calls and scheduled conferences, taking that relationship a step further might be a way to improve student achievement.

According to KQUED News, the teacher home visit is making a comeback in California and is drastically improving student performance and behavior in the classroom.

As opposed to just relying on short communications, one California elementary school teacher Stephanie Smith told KQUED News that home visits "can fundamentally change the relationship with a family, as long as it’s positive and it’s on the parents’ terms.”

"When parent, teacher and student all feel appreciated by one another, the new relationship can make a big difference in the classroom. Kids who have had home visits attend class more and do better in school. There are fewer discipline issues, and parents are more involved,” the article said.

Home visits help to make children feel like part of the classroom, and as a result, outbursts and behavioral issues are likely to be reduced.

This is especially a good thing for California schools, where many teachers are still adjusting to changes in disciplinary tactics as a result of a ban on student suspensions for non-violent offenses. 

The Parent/Teacher Home Visit Project in Sacramento is one project that’s aiming to spread the message of how useful home visits can be for both the student and the teacher.

According to the project's site, parent/teacher home visits help districts;

• increase student attendance rates
• increase student test scores
• decrease suspension and expulsion rates
• decrease vandalism at the school site

These benefits are made possible by this inexpensive method that can “truly engage parents with their child’s teacher and school,” the project says.

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Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

12/2/2015