Annie Dean, Professional Teacher, Grows From Home Visits

  Over the past year I visited over 50 families with the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project.  Colleagues and I visited nearly entire classes! Home visits generated lots of excitement; students were proud and confident as they announced, “You're coming to MY house today!” 

   Classroom communities flourished and even shy students opened up after visits. I enjoyed a deeper relationship with students; I could ask more meaningful questions because I had the family context as a resource. 

   Each family has a unique story to tell. Still, common themes emerged as we conducted home visits and began to see parents as true partners in education.

  All valued education. Many parents came to this country to give their children the educational opportunities they did not have in Mexico. All were grateful for teachers. 

   One father was deeply honored when we arrived; a teacher had visited him in Mexico when he was a child. It was a fond memory and he was glad his daughter would remember the day her teacher came to visit. When asked about his hopes and dreams for his children, another father answered, “I want my children to have good jobs. Jobs they enjoy. And I hope they give back to the country that has given them so much.” 

   Home visits have enriched my life, personally and professionally, and I'm grateful for the experience. 

  I hope the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project continues to grow! I have now moved to Carson City and hope I can do home visits there too.

Once You Do a Few, You Get Hooked
Micheal Recchia, Sun Valley Elementary School Site Coordinator

   "Last year we had several teachers whose goal was to do Parent Teacher Home Visits for every student in their class. They nearly got there and probably will this time. They saw first hand the value to each child and cumulatively in their classroom.

   We have conversations about Parent Teacher Home Visits in the lunch room all the time. I learn about the teachers' experiences with the visits and then send out encouraging messages to them regularly. Our principal, Ms. Prim Walters, also sends shout outs to the teachers to recognize their progress with the visits.  She and Assistant principal,Brian Prewett,are in full support of the visits. Ms. Walters recognizes staff in daily emails, at staff meetings and in morning announcements. 

   The relationships you build through the home visits can't be beat. You get to be a part of the neighborhood. You get to see the whole family. You learn more about their lives than you ever could in school. 

   One mother fed us a delicious meal. I had no idea what a stellar family they were. The dad and one teen were going to work out together at the gym after the visit. The other teen was going off to his part time job. The house was immaculate. It changed my point of view.

   You even get to catch up with the siblings who were at the school previously but are now in middle school or high school and see how they are doing. It creates bonds and they feel special that you remember them. 

   I have lots of ideas about how we can make the Parent Teacher Home Visit Program even better this year!"