Many schools have established home visits as a necessary part of the school year. It becomes a major way to get parents involved in the educational process of their child. It demonstrates how educators care and take strides to ensure student success.
Home school visits aren’t a new idea in education. They have been a part of the system for about as long as schools have existed. The requirement for conducting home visits started again with the Head Start programs. Head Start teachers were expected to make home visits for each student.
All students benefit from educators learning more about their students’ interests, experiences, and goals. Parents appreciate a teacher taking the time to listen to their questions, concerns and to voice plans for the future of their child. Once parents and educators establish a bond, advocates for education are developed.
Home visits can take on many looks and vary from school to school depending on the purpose or goal.
• Some schools prefer to send a team of two to the home.
• Some educators prefer a one-on-one home visit.
• Home visits are at times, conducted with the teacher, the parent, and the student present.
• Educators take learning activities for a student and parent to reinforce learning skills at home.
Visits should not last beyond 90 minutes. They should not be punitive or focused on a parents’ or students’ deficiency. The purpose of visits is to build trust in the community and to increase the staff’s understanding of the needs of the families in the community.
Schools that have utilized home school visits have several positive results to report.
• There was an increase in student motivation to do better in class.
• Student test scores were better.
• The teacher’s perspective of students’ personalities and learning styles aided in the creation of differentiated lessons.
• There was a decrease in student suspensions and expulsions.
• Schools showed a decrease in vandalism.
Schools in D.C., Virginia, and parts of New York City, Chicago, and California reap the benefits of home visits. Home school visits provide a foundation for building community relationships. Visits make parents feel like teachers care. Changing how educators relate to their communities allow for the changes that are needed in today’s classrooms for all students to meet academic success. Families want a relationship with the teacher and they want to know how to help their child learn. Teachers always benefit from learning more about their students’ interest and experiences. And on the other side, families benefit by understanding the teaching style and personality of the teacher.
