home

HOME VISITS = =

What do you think are the benefits in educators making home visits? Leave your comments here and then click the button below to learn more.

The benefits are a better home and school connection. Relationships are important and developing one between the teacher, parent and child helps all to understand where the other is coming from.

I can definitely see home visits being beneficial. Seeing where the child comes from allows us to plan better. It also helps parents realize their opinions are welcomed and appreciated. I know for some cultures, school "stops when they leave the classroom." We need to explain the benefits of a school/home relationship. However, when teachers are not compensated and students live in unsafe areas, I do understand why teachers would hesitate to make home visits.

I think in a perfect world home visits would greatly enrich the relationship between the parents and the teacher. This connection would support the students learning and create a better team to help the student succeed. Unfortunately, home visits are hard for a teacher to make, and often without pay. It is important to have someone accompany the teacher which requires another employee. I think a family's home is a private and personal place. I would feel uncomfortable inviting students and their parents to my home and think some families would feel uncomfortable having the teacher come to their home. The classroom is a great place to meet. I think communication is important but can be done with email, phone calls, notes, or conferences at the school. I have also been in threatening situations with parents at the school but have the safety of others around and administration to support me when needed. In a very legal world, I think visiting the home in unrealistic.

Home visits can be beneficial. They help the teacher see the student in his/her own environment and observe interactions with family. An open discussion with the family can build the home-school relationship and bring to light any miscommunications. It does not need to be done with all families. However, the families that need the school to be part of their community and support system will welcome teachers and staff as a part of their lives.

I would love to be able to do home visits. I think it would greatly enhance my relationship with the students as well as with the parents. For me, the biggest obstacle is time. I am already giving many hours each day to my teaching job, and I don't know where to add home visits. If I could team up with a colleage and we could visit together, perhaps I would be more inclined to add a few visits each month to my school days. I know I would learn much to help me gain more understanding of each student and family.

Pros/Cons