Teachers have limited time to make home visits or to talk to students' parents because many teachers are parents themselves. Uncertainty about what to do Many parents are unsure about how to help their children learn. The number of teenage parents has risen dramatically in recent years, and many are simply not prepared to be parents. Parents who have had bad experiences with schools as students may be reluctant to return to school as parents, or they may feel unsure about the value of their contribution. Many parents say they would be willing to spend more time helping their children with homework or other learning activities if teachers would give them more guidance.
Many teachers lack training in how to work with families.
Few teacher preparation programs address techniques for communicating with families, and many teachers and other school staff do not know how to involve parents in children's learning. Many immigrant families do not understand English. Those family members who speak English but have little education may have difficulty communicating with schools because their life experiences and perspectives are different. Some immigrant parents have different views of schools and their own role in their children's education. Lack of a supportive environment Parents are raising their children alone.