There is an old adage that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Teachers and principals need to take this to heart.
When new families enroll in our schools, it is the office staff that makes this first impression. They play a vital role in establishing a positive working relationship between the home and school. This relationship is especially important when working with immigrant families who are not familiar with the culture.
- Honor the role of the parent. Even though a child may need to act as an interpreter, make it clear that you are talking adult-to-adult, just as you would in any other situation. Make it clear that you respect the parent as the decision maker. If an interpreter is involved, don't neglect to make eye contact with the parent. If parents feel invisible, it will be virtually impossible to convince them that they have an important role to play in the education of their children.
- Assist parents in completing paperwork. Enrollment cards, health records, and other forms we ask parents to complete are very important—and at times can seem overwhelming. These forms may take some explaining for parents to understand, and it is far easier to walk them through the forms face-to-face than over the phone at a later time.
- Remember that spoken language precedes written language. You may have a parent who can converse quite effectively in informal English. However, the written words on forms, notices, and other paperwork are much more formal, if not technical. Parents may greatly appreciate a friendly offer of assistance.
- Remember that cultural nuances may be hard to grasp. Figures of speech such as "getting off on the right foot" are difficult to explain and even more difficult to comprehend if a parent is not familiar with English idioms. Tell a parent that completing a form will be "a piece of cake," and you are likely to get a puzzled look!
- Develop a plan for parents to communicate with the school. If a child is ill, how will the absence get reported? Can a family friend or an older sibling call? Can the parents call a 24-hour attendance line and just state the child's name? Have a plan for when this occurs.
- Develop a plan for the school to communicate with parents. What if a child is ill and needs to go home? Now is the time to determine whom the school will call in this situation. Make sure the school has all the contact information and proper authorization if a neighbor or other family member is the contact person.
- Include a way to communicate adult-to-adult. Although using students as interpreters is appropriate in many instances, some information may be intended for adults only. For example, asking students to relay that excessive tardiness is a concern gives them too much power to derail communication. On the other hand, asking students to relay that the excessive tardiness is a direct result of the parent not getting them to school on time places students in the difficult position of criticizing their parents. Establish that there are times when you will use the ELL teacher or an interpreter to relay vital information.
- Recognize that some cultures show respect in different ways. In some cultures it is disrespectful to look someone in the eyes. Although there may be times when immigrants need to honor our school culture (for example, women are not second-class citizens), there are times when we need to honor theirs.
- Recognize that some cultures have different standards about touch and personal space. Patting a young child on the head may have a completely different connotation in some cultures. Likewise, don't be offended if a woman of Muslim faith does not shake hands with a male staff member.
- Don't judge a book by its cover. In some cultures it is considered offensive to demonstrate your wealth through clothes and jewelry. Some cultures emphasize the common good and would never dream of touting the level of their own education. Reserve judgment about parents' economic class or levels of education; their modesty may trump both.
- Value all parents. Be cognizant of how you interact with all parents, and be careful not to unintentionally convey that some parents are valued more than others.
- Remember that a calm, warm smile transcends language barriers. At its core, cultural responsiveness is about building relationships. A friendly smile needs no translation.
Any time we have the privilege of meeting a parent for the first time, we should remember the last line of the movie Casablanca (1942): "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Being culturally responsive is essential to creating a strong home-school connection.
