How Can We Prepare Teachers to Work With Culturally Diverse Students and Their Families?

One way to prepare teachers to work with culturally diverse students and their families is to help teachers develop their communication skills. Teacher preparation courses can include more interpersonal communication skill building into curricula so that teachers are better prepared to develop shared understanding with families. Teacher preparation specialists also can provide teachers with new communication strategies. For example, clarification statements like, “Can you help me understand…” or “What would you like me to know or do to address the issue?” will provide an opportunity for the teacher to hear the parents’ concerns and invite them into the conversation. Teacher candidates do not need to leave preparation programs with the idea that they must be in charge whenever they interact with parents.

Principals and school administrators can help teachers by providing additional preparation time for teachers to review student progress and family information before conferences. Administrators can also allot more time during conferences so that teachers have time to listen carefully to the information parents bring to the table.

Excerpted from “How Can We Prepare Teachers to Work with Culturally Diverse Students and Their Families? What Skills Should Educators Develop to Do This Successfully?” by Bonnie Rockafellow, Education Consultant, Michigan Department of Education, published in Member Insights of the Family Involvement Network (FINE) at the Harvard Family Research Project www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/fine.html.

The Family Involvement Network of Educators (FINE) is a national network of over 4,000 people who are interested in promoting strong partnerships between children’s educators, their families, and their communities. FINE’s membership is composed of faculty in higher education, school professionals, directors, trainers of community-based and national organizations, parent leaders, and graduate students.

For more information, contact: Bonnie Rockafellow, Education Consultant, Michigan Department of Education, 608 W. Allegan St., P.O. Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48909, rockafellowb@michigan.gov.