Second Step® Insights
Building Bridges: The Power of Parent-Teacher Collaboration to Strengthen Social-Emotional Learning
August 21, 2024 | By: The Second Step® Team

In the dynamic journey of a child’s education, the partnership between parents and teachers is pivotal. This alliance is even more crucial when it comes to nurturing the social-emotional development of students. By fostering open communication, setting shared goals, and creating inclusive environments, parents or caregivers and teachers can build bridges that support their child’s holistic growth. Here are some practical strategies for enhancing social-emotional learning (SEL) through collaborative efforts.
Fostering open communication
Effective communication serves as the cornerstone of any successful collaboration. It’s important for teachers to establish channels for regular dialogue with parents and caregivers, keeping them informed about their student’s social-emotional progress and challenges. According to a study on school-family partnerships and parental involvement in SEL, creating opportunities for meaningful interactions between home and school is vital for student development.
Weekly updates
Teachers can send out weekly newsletters or emails to parents, highlighting the social-emotional themes and activities covered in class. The National Education Association (NEA) emphasizes the importance of engaging parents in the education process, and regular updates can help keep parents involved and informed about their child’s learning journey. To enhance engagement further, incorporating anecdotes or student testimonials showcasing social-emotional growth can add a personal touch, fostering a deeper connection between home and school.
Digital platforms
Technology integration can help facilitate communication between home and school and deepen parental involvement. Using apps or digital platforms, teachers can share real-time updates, photos, and videos of classroom activities related to SEL. In addition, educators can create a dedicated space on these platforms for parents to share their insights, questions, or even resources related to SEL. This could enhance parent-teacher relationships, foster a more interactive community, and enrich the dialogue beyond traditional communication methods.
Parent-teacher conferences
Beyond academic progress, part of parent-teacher conferences should be dedicated to discussing students’ social-emotional development. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) emphasizes the importance of building partnerships between families and educators. Introducing student-led conferences, where children actively participate in discussing their social-emotional growth, can empower them to take ownership of their development while strengthening the bond between home and school.
Fostering a culture of transparency and trust encourages parents and teachers to openly discuss strategies for supporting a student’s social-emotional needs. By aligning their efforts and sharing insights, they can reinforce consistent messaging and interventions, which promotes continuity between home and school environments.
Setting shared SEL goals
Collaborating on specific SEL goals for individual students can yield profound benefits. The CASEL Guide to Schoolwide Social and Emotional Learning underscores the significance of setting clear objectives that encompass both academic and social-emotional disciplines. Parents and teachers can engage in joint goal-setting sessions, drawing upon their unique perspectives and expertise to tailor objectives that address the child’s individual strengths and areas for growth.
Goal-setting meetings
Teachers can schedule meetings with parents and caregivers and students to collaboratively set SEL goals for the year, indicating clear and actionable semester milestones along the way. Incorporating reflection exercises during these meetings where parents, teachers, and students share their observations and aspirations can deepen understanding and commitment to achieving shared goals. CASEL’s guide provides an overview of an effective goal-setting process for enhancing SEL.
Progress tracking
Teachers can implement a visual progress tracker in the classroom and provide a simplified version for parents to use at home. Progress monitoring is essential for assessing student growth in social-emotional skills. Aperture Education explains how to improve your Second Step® SEL program by measuring its effectiveness through comprehensive DESSA Second Step Assessments. In addition, involving students in tracking their own progress can promote self-awareness and accountability. Students can self-track by using individualized tracking charts or journals.
Milestone celebrations
Teachers and parents can acknowledge and celebrate students’ progress toward their SEL goals with small rewards or recognition ceremonies. Research suggests that celebrating success fosters a positive learning environment and motivates students to continue their efforts. Including the wider school community in these celebrations through assemblies, newsletters, or social media platforms can amplify the impact—creating a collective commitment to nurturing social-emotional growth.
Creating an inclusive environment
Schools play a vital role in fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and responsible for SEL. This requires a concerted effort from educators, administrators, parents, and students alike. By embracing a schoolwide approach to SEL, schools can embed practices and policies that prioritize emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
Family engagement events
Schools can organize family nights or workshops focused on social-emotional themes, such as empathy, teamwork, or self-awareness. The National Youth Leadership Council emphasizes the importance of service learning in promoting social responsibility and self-confidence. Inviting families from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences or lead workshops can broaden perspectives and strengthen community bonds, building a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
Diverse literature
Educators or administrators can encourage parents to diversify their child’s reading materials by recommending books that feature characters from various backgrounds and experiences. A research study conducted by the University of Wisconsin indicates that reading, discussing, and reflecting on diverse children’s literature impacts empathy and increases cultural awareness. Hosting book clubs or reading circles where families can explore diverse literature together can foster meaningful discussions and promote understanding across different cultural contexts.
Community service projects
School leaders or educators can collaborate with parents to organize community service projects or volunteering opportunities to help instill a sense of compassion and civic responsibility. Multiple studies support the benefits of service learning in fostering social skills and improved attitudes toward self in children. To maximize impact, the National Youth Leadership Council recommends involving students in the selection and planning of service projects that resonate with their interests and values. This helps empower them to become active contributors to their communities while reinforcing social-emotional skills such as resilience, teamwork, and responsibility.
The collaborative efforts of parents and teachers hold immense potential in nurturing the social-emotional growth of students. By keeping the lines of communication open, you can enrich children’s educational journeys and help cultivate resilient, empathetic, and socially competent individuals poised to thrive in an ever-changing world.