Communicating with Families across Cultures: An Investigation of Teacher Perceptions and Practices.

Abstract

Increasing diversity in the student population intensifies the need for and the difficulties of establishing culturally sensitive and meaningful commu - nication between teachers and parents. This study examined the practices of early childhood and elementary teachers concerning culturally sensitive home- school communication. As a second phase of a multi-phase research design, focus group discussions were conducted with 21 participants. Discussions cen- tered on the teachers' understanding of familial influences on learning and their actual communication patterns with parents. Seven themes were identified re - lated to such issues as: defining culture; exploring the relationship between culture, class, and child-rearing; recognizing one's own biases; and reaching out to parents in a culturally sensitive manner. Implications for educators working with families from diverse cultures are discussed.