Laying a foundation of good communication with your student's parents is essential in establishing a successful teaching program. It has been my experience as an educator, that building a positive relationship with the parents will contribute to the student's success in the classroom. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to establish good communication before your teaching session begins. Look for opportunities to get to know the families on a personal level. This will give you insight as to the personalities of the children, insight as to family dynamics and discipline within the family, as well as establish a positive relationship with the parents prior to class. This relationship will allow you to address positive and negative behaviors which may be displayed by the students in class.

Before your class session begins, write down what your expectations of the students are and share those expectations with the parents. There are several formats for doing this, depending on the age of the students in your class. For older students, a contract of expectations could be drawn up, then signed by both the student and the parents. For younger students, a letter which welcomes them to class and which also lays out expectations could be made prior to the first class. This contract or letter could include an agreement, signed by the parents, on what student expectations are (bringing books to class, having assignments completed prior to class, memorizing Bible verses, etc.). Having these expectations in writing and signed by the parents eliminates controversy and questions, as well as establishes your procedure for conducting class. You could also have a parent meeting prior to the first class session to present your expectations and answer any questions parents may have.

It is important that you, as the teacher, share positive comments with the parents regarding their student after class. By sharing positive comments, it will help to build upon that foundation of good communication that you established prior to the beginning of the class session. In the event that you need to address a student's conduct in class or lack of preparation, the good communication you established early on will only gain support from the parents for what you, as the teacher, are trying to accomplish in class.

Treating Bible class the same as any other class outside of the church is key. Conveying this to the parents during your early communications can be challenging, but it can also be very effective. Parents need to understand that Bible class is just as important, if not more important, than their child's regular schoolwork. Their teacher at school expects the student's lessons to be done on time, due dates to be respected, etc. These same expectations, stated clearly from the beginning, will create success in your Bible class.

Lee Ann Dunlap has taught in private schools for many years and has won several awards for her skills in teaching. She is also the mother of three Christian daughters and the wife of Terry Dunlap, a computer programmer, who served as an elder in the Lafayette Heights church in Indianapolis for over ten years.