One common method of parent-teacher communication is the use of a daily home to school communication log. My son has used one pretty much since day one, but they are not just for children who are non-verbal.
Home to school communication logs are great for any child because it prevents any miscommunication or forgotten communication by the child.
Here are some tips I’ve gained from other parents and from working as an advocate, on how to maximize the value of your home-school communication log or sheet. After all, if the information in the log is worthless, why waste everyone’s time?
Parent Communication Log
Parent-Teacher Communication Sheets are also a great way to gather data. You can spot trends in behaviors, determine if there are patterns and much more.
These don’t have to be filed or kept a certain way. Just have a “landing place” for them, so that you have them if you need them. If they come via email, create a separate email folder for them. If you are receiving paper copies, keep a box in a closet some place. Or, take pictures of each one before you toss it and keep it in a folder on your phone. If you ever need that data, you have it.
Over the past 14 years of this site, this post and list has changed quite a bit. Unfortunately, while I have had a website for since 2011…not everyone else stays in it for the long haul. By popular request, I combined all of these daily communication logs into one file. Download the file, but only print the page(s) you want.
Parent Teacher Communication Forms
- Get it written into the IEP under progress monitoring so that doing the log is not optional (this is for both parents and staff!).
- You can also set a self-advocacy goal so that the child does become the main communicator at some point, beginner steps would just be getting the notebook to and from school successfully.
- Both parents and staff should participate. It’s equally important for teachers/staff to know if your child did not sleep or had a particularly good or bad evening or morning or might not be feeling well.
- To increase efficiency at both ends, make it simple! Put as many yes/no checkboxes as you can or things like low/med/high for behaviors. If it’s just a check and a sentence or two rather than a whole dissertation you increase the likelihood of it being done regularly (most teachers and staff have caseloads that are too high!).
- Keep it limited to really what you need to know.
Parent Communication in IDEA
IDEA does not address this specific issue. Therefore, per IDEA, a school is not required to provide a daily communication sheet for parents. However, IDEA does not prohibit it either. One of the main principles of special education is meaningful parent participation. Another is Individualization. So, if you need this information to be a meaningful, effective IEP team member, I would ask for it based on that.
And, while I certainly recognize that it would be difficult for a school to provide a daily communication log for every student, the I for Individualization means that if a child needs it to access FAPE, they should get it. Keep in mind, the teacher doesn’t have to do it. This is a task that an aide or para can do. Or, if the child is doing end-of-day check-ins with staff, it can be done together at that time. It can be used to reflect on the day.
As always, make your ask in writing. Have data, and ask for a PWN with the team’s final decision.
Home to School Communication Logs
Teachers are busy. In order to increase compliance with this, make it as easy for them to complete as possible. Use checkboxes instead of “comments” sections. Of course noteworthy things should be told to parents. But for every day stuff like “did they or didn’t they go to OT” that can be a checkbox item.
I hope these help and reduce your workload!
More Back to School Resources
- Back to School Coloring Pages
- 44 Free Visual Schedules and Templates
- 17 Free All About Me Worksheet Templates (PDF)
- 10 Free Daily Communication Logs for Special Education: Parent-Teacher and Home-School
- First Week of School Activities for Special Education
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – 4
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – 4
- Norris Press, Casey (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Press, Smart Educational (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Pax, Palki (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Cherry & Pickle Publishing (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- King, Alex (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Communication Tips and Resources
- Did your IEP Team Put you on a Parent Communication Plan? Yes, they can do that.
- 10 Free Daily Communication Logs for Special Education: Parent-Teacher and Home-School
- How To Write an IEP Parent Concerns Letter that Gets Results (Examples)
- IEP Meeting Checklist for Teachers ( Free PDF)
- Communicating for Success: Tips to Strengthen Parent-Teacher Relationships in IEPs (Parent Teacher Communication)
- Can IEPs be Emailed? And 11 Other IEP Email FAQs.
- IEPs and Email: What to Know Before You Click “Send.”
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