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Most schools have had a couple weeks to settle back in after the winter break, and for many educators, that time has been spent re-engaging students, and re-establishing routines. That focus is warranted, as the return from break is an opportunity to help students thrive in the second half of the school year. The importance of getting off to a good start is universally acknowledged.
The return from winter break is also an important time for family engagement, but it can sometimes get pushed to the back burner. Bandwidth is stretched to the limit in January. Sometimes a “welcome back” message is all that schools can get out during a busy month filled with competing priorities.
So what are some simple ways you can go beyond the “welcome back,” and get families to lean in for the rest of the school year? We’ve got a few suggestions.
Recap Your January Reset
A welcome back message in the first few days may go unread, as families are getting back into the swing of things–and they may be struggling. You can empathize by providing a window into how your school is helping students get re-acclimated. Are there insights you can offer to families that may work at home as well? How about a few quotes from teachers about what’s working for them? Sharing your journey through January–challenges and successes–can help families feel seen.
Pump Them Up
Make it clear to families that they are critical to the success of their students in this second half of the year. Remind them of the positive impact their engagement can have on student attendance, academic success, behavior, and overall well-being. Let them know that no matter how engaged they may or may not have been in the first half of the year, this is a great opportunity to get connected now, as they can have a significant impact for the rest of the year and beyond. Give them multiple ways to get involved.
Start a Two-Way Conversation
Communicating upcoming dates and deadlines is important, but conversation leads to real engagement. Teachers can ask families for their perspective on how their student is readjusting after the break, and provide their own observations from the classroom. This gives parents and teachers an opportunity to identify any challenges early, and provide support together.
How Edlio Can Help
Edlio’s unified K-12 communications platform can help you engage families across every channel. From website updates to newsletters and mass messaging options, there are multiple ways to share your story. Classroom grouping and 1:1 messaging allow teachers to personalize communication for their class and students, as well as have two-way conversations with individual families. Our mobile app provides a complete family engagement experience in one place, so you can meet families where they are.
Visit our blog to see how our school and district partners are leveraging Edlio to reach every family, connect their communities, and uplift their students.
Connect with us to learn more about how Edlio can support your family engagement goals.
