On the first day of school, Mrs. Turner, a second-grade teacher, looked down her roster and circled one name, Cooper. Last year, Cooper had struggled with reading and often acted out when he felt overwhelmed. Instead of waiting for problems to arise, Mrs. Turner picked up the phone that evening and called Cooper’s parents.
“Hi, this is Mrs. Turner, Cooper’s teacher. I just wanted you to know how excited I am to work with Cooper this year. I saw how kind he was helping another student today, and I can already tell he’s going to be a leader in our classroom.”
Cooper’s parents, quiet at first, eventually said, “Thank you. No one has ever called me with good news about our son on the first day.”
That one call shifted the entire dynamic. Cooper came to school more confident, and his mom showed up to every school event, often volunteering to help. Trust was built, alignment began, and both teacher and parents started the year as true partners.
This story isn’t unusual. When schools start strong with family engagement, the year unfolds – differently. Trust builds early. Transparency flows naturally. Families feel like partners rather than spectators. As a school leader or educator, you don’t need a dozen initiatives, just a clear Quarter One Family Engagement Plan with strategies you can actually carry out and reflect upon.
Below are five practical strategies to implement during the first quarter that will set your school up for success all year long!
1. Make it Personal to Build Connections
Before sending a calendar full of events, start by making personal connections. A short phone call or home visit communicates a powerful message. “Your child matters to me, and so do you.”
Research backs this up. A 2024 article from KQED’s MindShift highlights the impact of positive phone calls home, noting that they can significantly improve teacher-family relationships and student motivation. Families often brace themselves for negative news, so when the first contact is a celebration, it disarms and delights.
- Phone Calls: Even a two-minute call builds bridges. Celebrate something you’ve noticed in kindness, curiosity, and effort.
- Home Visit: While not always ideal logistically, parent-teacher home visits show that families feel more connected and empowered when educators step into their world. Visits don’t need to be lengthy or formal, just a chance to say, “We’re in this together.”
Reflection Questions
- Did every family in my class or grade level hear from us personally in the first quarter?
- How can we track and celebrate those initial conversations?
2. Offer Virtual Family Connection Calls
Many schools plan events during the day, and working families are often left out. To bridge the gap, schedule evening virtual calls during the first quarter. Keep them short, 30 minutes max, and offer them at two different times to increase accessibility.
Structure the call around:
- School Updates: Highlight key events and deadlines
- Learning Spotlight: Share one thing students are working on that parents can support at home
- Q&A: Collect parent questions in advance (via Google Form) and address the top ones live.
These calls send a clear message: “We value your time and what you include.” They also create a repeatable structure you can use monthly or quarterly.
Reflection Questions
- Did we offer opportunities for working families to connect outside the school day?
- How might we improve accessibility (translation, recordings, and reminders)?
3. Create Parent-to-Parent Connection Events
Family Engagement isn’t just about parents connecting with the school, it’s also about parents connecting with one another. Go beyond the PTA by hosting two low-stakes, welcoming events in the first quarter where families can meet each other.
Ideas include:
- Family Meet & Greet Picnic: Simple potluck in a local park.
- Grade-Level Mixers: Families of second graders, for example, connect and share tips.
- Parent Interest Groups: Book clubs, walking groups, or cultural potlucks.
When parents know each other, they feel more invested in the school community. They share resources, carpool, and support each other. Stronger parent networks mean stronger student outcomes.
Reflection Questions:
- Did we create spaces for families to connect with each other outside formal PTA meetings?
- What parent-led initiatives emerged from these events?
4. Back-to-School Coffee/Tea with the Principal
Families want to know not just what’s happening in classrooms, but also the vision of the school. Early in the year, host a Coffee/Tea with the Principal both in-person and virtually. The event doesn’t need to be fancy. Provide coffee, tea, and pastries. Share:
- The school’s goals for the year (literacy, SEL, arts, etc)
- How families play a crucial role in meeting these goals
- An open Q&A to build transparency
Virtual options (lunchtime Zoom, for example) allow more families to attend. By positioning leadership as approachable and proactive, you establish a culture of shared responsibility and alignment.
Reflection Questions:
- Do families understand the school’s priorities for the year?
- How do I know they feel invited into the vision rather than left on the sidelines?
5. Host Parent Visitation Day to Show Learning in Action
One of the most powerful engagement strategies is inviting families to see learning in action. In Quarter One, host a Parent Visitation Day where parents step into classrooms for part of the morning.
To deepen impact:
- Ask students to share their goals or what they’re excited to learn.
- Offer parents a chance to reflect alongside their children.
- Create space for parents to ask, “What do you want me to know as I support you this year?”
This event not only builds transparency but also empowers students to articulate their own learning journey. Parents walk away seeing the richness of instruction and their child’s ownership of learning.
Reflection Questions:
- How did students’ voices shape this event?
- Did families leave with a clearer picture of how to support learning at home?
Building Trust From Day One
The first quarter of the school year sets the tone. When schools lead with trust, transparency, and authentic connection, families feel like partners in their child’s education. By implementing these five strategies: personal connection, virtual calls, parent-to-parent events, leadership coffees, and parent visitation, you not only start strong, but you also build a foundation that lasts all year.
As Mrs. Turner’s phone call showed, family engagement doesn’t need to be complicated to be transformative. What matters most is the intentionality and consistency behind it. The payoff is clear: students thrive, families trust, and schools grow stronger together.
About the Author
Dr. Leah Nelson (she/her) is a dynamic School Administrator, Arts Integration Specialist, and Educational Consultant dedicated to transforming learning spaces for students and the educators who serve them. With an MBA and an Ed.D. in School Leadership, Dr. Nelson brings over 15 years of experience in education. Her expertise spans instructional coaching, family-school partnerships, arts integration, and leadership development. She is especially passionate about building school cultures where student identity is honored, families are true partners, and educators are empowered to lead with purpose and equity.
