I have a child in the first grade.  He is a bright little boy, but one who isn't particularly interested in discussing the details of his school day, the least of which is the actual work he is doing in class.  Still, I continue to ask him about what he is learning every day.  I used to expect notes from the teachers explaining what topics they were focused on and how I could reinforce at home.  However, after 12 weeks, I no longer expect that, instead I am pleasantly surprised when an occasional topic outline comes home in the bottom of the bookbag.

Apparently, I am not alone.  An article in the Washington Post reflects a similar issue with communication from the classroom, or lack thereof.  As a former teacher, I can understand the argument that teachers are busy enough just trying to teach, that they don't need to add stress and responsibility of communicating with parents.   But it doesn't hold much weight in my book.  Email, websites, and cell phones make the communication issue so much easier that it really isn't a burden to take a few minutes and send the parents a notification about what's going on in the classroom.

In fact, not communicating with parents is foolish.  Although sometimes you will come across a parent you wish you hadn't met, normally you will find that parents can be your best asset to classroom success.  An involved parent can offer insight and at-home reinforcement.  Parents should be viewed as being part of the team, not the opposition.  Communication is extremely important for the success of the classroom, the teacher, and the student.