A Common Scenario
We’ve all been there. It’s mid-October and the school year is in full swing. You’re co-teaching in 6th grade ELA, and Michael (a student on your caseload) raises his hand to answer a question. You hold your breath – this is a BIG deal. Michael is a struggling reader, making him very hesitant to participate in class. The teacher calls on him, he shares his response and… his answer is correct!
This is huge! You want to celebrate Michael so he can understand what a big deal this is, hopefully propelling him to continue taking academic risks as the year goes on.
Who else should be looped into celebrating Michael? Ideally, you would call his family. But, you haven’t spoken to them yet this school year. Do you know their phone number, or when the best time to reach them is? Is there a way to leverage his full IEP team at this moment to keep the momentum of Michael’s growth?
Now, let’s build a time machine and rewind to the beginning of the school year. While you can celebrate Michael’s win with him individually, you can make this moment even more impactful by looping in his family. Building strong relationships early in the school year benefits students because it creates space for honest, productive conversations with families.
Fortunately, there is a simple way to begin building a partnership with families before the school year even starts.
Why Early Connection Matters
One of the first things a special education case manager should do at the beginning of the school year is make initial contact with all of their students’ families. This initial conversation is the foundation of trust that will be built over the course of the school year.
Making that first call can feel intimidating. Finding time is one challenge, but knowing what to say is often an even bigger one. The conversation is important, and needs to be rooted in partnership and focused on a student’s strengths, interests, and goals.
To bridge the gap between intention and action, use this Caseload Introduction Script . Rather than wondering what to say or worrying about forgetting something important, the script walks special educators through a conversation that builds trust, gathers valuable information about the student, and establishes an open line of communication from day one.
The Caseload Introduction Script allows you to:
- Introduce yourself confidently
- Learn about the student’s strengths and interests
- Understand the family’s preferred communication methods
- Identify shared goals for the year
- Establish yourself as a trusted partner
Putting the Script into Action
- Find time in your schedule: Summer professional development is packed with competing priorities – from reviewing IEPs to collaborating with colleagues to preparing instruction. Dedicating time to connect with families is key to ensuring your students have a strong school year. School leaders play an important role in making these calls possible. Setting aside time during summer professional development communicates that family partnerships are a priority, not something teachers have to squeeze in after everything else is done.
- Use this script when connecting with families: Connecting with families can be intimidating because you don’t know how to start the conversation or fully understand the purpose of the call. Start by introducing yourself and learning about the student from the people who know them best. This simple conversation lays the foundation for a strong partnership throughout the year.
- End the conversation with a next step: Tell the family to save your number and reach out if they need anything. Become the family’s point person for the school year. Initiating the year with a quick connection that ends with you being their teammate creates a strong foundation for whatever is to come as the year unfolds.
- Log the conversation: This step is key and often forgotten! Whether you take notes during the conversation or right after, log the details of the call in your parent communication log.
The Scenario, Revisited
Now, let’s zoom forward to September.
You made initial contact with Michael’s dad in July. You had a great conversation and have followed up with him three times this school year (you know this because it’s logged). You’re excited to call because you’ve had tough and honest conversations about the growth Michael needs to make in reading this year, and this is evidence of all of his hard work.
You call Michael’s dad, and he is ecstatic! You make a plan for how to continue to support Michael with his reading and in ELA. You end the conversation with Michael’s dad thanking you for being on his son’s team.
Strong family partnerships begin with intentional communication, such as a simple introductory conversation before the school year starts.
Every crucial conversation starts somewhere. When that conversation is built on weeks – or even months – of trust, you are able to collaboratively work together to support a student. An introductory phone call is the first step toward that partnership.
What Now?
Download the tool for immediate use here.
At DLC, we’re committed to supporting teachers with building strong relationships with their students’ families because students thrive when there is connection between home and school.
Want more resources like this? Visit diverselearnerscoop.com to explore our tools, trainings, and professional learning opportunities for special educators and school leaders.