Teachers can also assist parents by providing a method for parents to review their children's schoolwork on a regular basis. For example, teachers can use manila envelopes or folders to send work home each week with a place for parents write comments on the front cover. Parents can also stay involved by completing surveys on current program issues or by writing a guest column in the school newsletter. Each parent or guardian can also keep a dialogue journal to stay in touch with their child's teacher. The teacher could have a specified place in the classroom for children to place their parents' notebook or small memo pad.
Parents can write their concerns or questions in the notebook and the teacher can respond.
This will also enable the teacher to share information concerning a child's progress or particular things that a child might need to work on at home. Regardless of the family form, parents and teachers must work cooperatively to establish opportunities for parents to be involved in their children's education. It is important for parents to recognize how critical their involvement is to a child's success in school. Research has shown that when parents or caregivers are involved, students achieve more regardless of the family's socioeconomic status, ethnic or racial background or the parents' education level. Students are more likely to fall behind in their school performance if their parents do not participate in school events, do not develop a working relationship with their child's teachers, or do not keep up with what is happening in their child's school.