Connecting with Parents
By Sejal Dev
If there was one silver lining to the mess of the pandemic it had to be the stronger connections I, and many other educators I imagine, made with our class families. I may not have realized it at first as I was going out of my mind trying to figure out just how we were going to survive this new adventure, but I was giving them just a little bit of a glimpse of what we do day in and day out—and I know how curious they were. In doing so I was giving them the tools to support their children at home and make my life in the class that much more manageable. In a way I always knew that figuring out ways to offer more opportunities for family partnering would make a world of difference, but I think until the pandemic, I took that opportunity for granted. Parents came back to us with so many insightful connections including a big one in that they realized that the work we were doing with their children truly was purposeful. Some even commented on being grateful to sit in on lessons as they were not aware of certain concepts like how to produce accurate letter sounds or what that “confusing” stamp game was. It wasn’t until these comments that I really started to think deeper on how I could continue this partnership.
It prompted me to finally create my weekly newsletters with short articles on such topics as the Sensitive Periods and how they can be supported at home, how to use rich language with children, how to play sound games, book suggestions, how cloth washing is so much more than doing a chore, etc. I’ve gotten so much positive feedback from parents who are grateful to gain a deeper understanding of Montessori and how they can implement it in their home. Montessori is so simply translated into the home, that with regular communication from us, families can begin to transform their home life where and if they feel that they need to.
Other ways I’ve tried to up my game is to really pay attention to the families of children that present extra challenges. We as Montessorians know that these challenges are often there due to an obstacle somewhere we must help remove. I connect with those parents right away. I try to have regular meetings, provide email updates, and collaborate on different ways we can help their child as best as we can. Forming a positive, non-judgemental relationship with these families right away has often lead to a better understanding of home life and what obstacles might be causing the child stress. Families have so much going on that it’s not through any fault of their own that certain things may not be apparent until they get the chance to speak with another adult and dive deeper into their child’s development from an educator’s perspective.
I’m lucky to be in a school that supports parent observations. I’ve heard from so many parents who were initially skeptical of a Montessori education citing that “they get to do whatever they want,” that after observations they suddenly see everything on a much deeper level. I encourage observations and ask that parents take time to watch the whole class and not just their child. Letting them know what to pay attention to prior to an observation also helps! I particularly communicate that they should listen to conversations between children as often times, what seems like a chaotic activity in movement is actually a productive one in language.
Cultivating positive relationships with our families is one of the best ways that we can make an impact on a child’s life! I’m lucky to have such great families as a part of my community. Learning from them has made me a better educator.
Sejal Dev
Sejal Dev is in her 8th year as a Primary Guide at Lumin Lindsley Park Community School - a public charter school in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, Sejal is an online mentor for the Blended Primary Course at MINT. She began her Montessori journey in 2008 when she worked in public relations for a small Montessori school in Lubbock, Texas. Through that work she recognized the impact that Montessori education has on the development of the child. After three years working in public relations, Sejal decide to take her training at International Montessori Training Institute of Atlanta under the late Joen Bettman. Through her work at Lumin Sejal has had the privilege of serving the needs of a wide array of student populations including ELL’s and students with speech, behavioral, and spectrum needs.
