5 Meaningful Ways to Build Family Connections Before the First Day of School
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Make Your School Awesome Staff
The back-to-school season is filled with preparation. From setting up your classroom to planning your first lessons and organizing materials, it’s easy to focus only on what happens inside the four walls of your classroom. But one of the most powerful things you can do in July or August doesn’t involve bulletin boards or lesson plans. It’s building early, meaningful connections with families.
When you take time to reach out before school starts, you help establish trust, open lines of communication, and create a sense of partnership. Families who feel welcome and informed are much more likely to be engaged throughout the year and to work with you when challenges arise.
Here are five simple but impactful ways to connect with families before the first day of school:
1. Send a Personalized Welcome Postcard
There’s something special about receiving real mail, especially for a child. Sending a short handwritten postcard with a warm greeting such as “I can’t wait to meet you!” or “We’re going to have a great year together!” can make students feel seen and excited. It also lets parents know that you're already thinking about their child in a positive, personal way.
Helpful tip: Write a few each day so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. If handwriting all of them is too much, consider printing a postcard design and adding a short note or signature to personalize it.
2. Record a Quick Intro Video
A one or two-minute video introduction helps families put a face to your name and hear your friendly tone. This can ease anxiety for students and help families feel more connected to you from the start.
What to include: Your name, a few fun facts such as a favorite book or hobby, your teaching style in one sentence, and a brief description of what students can expect in your classroom. If possible, film the video in your classroom to give a sneak peek of the learning space.
3. Create a Class Welcome Newsletter
A class newsletter is a great way to introduce yourself, outline your classroom expectations, and provide basic information like how to contact you or when important dates are coming up. Keep it welcoming and informative, not overwhelming.
Consider including:
Contact information and how you prefer to communicate
A snapshot of the daily schedule
A short “Get to Know Me” section
How families can support learning at home
Answers to common questions
You can send this as an email attachment or post it on your class website. Tools like Canva and Google Docs offer great templates.
4. Reconnect with Returning Families
If you teach students you’ve worked with in past years, reach out to say hello. Let them know how excited you are to continue working with their child. This is also a great opportunity to ask for feedback or reflect on past strategies. For example, “Was there anything you found helpful last year that I can continue doing this year?”
Even a short message helps reinforce that you value the home-school connection.
5. Invite Early Communication
Create opportunities for families to share information about their child before the first day. In your newsletter or welcome message, include a simple question such as:
“Is there anything you’d like me to know about your child before school begins?”
This shows that you see parents and guardians as experts on their children. It also helps you start the year with important insight into your students' personalities, needs, and strengths.
Teacher Takeaways:
You don’t need to do everything on this list, but doing even one thing can make a big difference. Taking time to connect with families before school starts helps build the foundation for a strong year. When parents feel welcome and informed, students come in feeling more confident and supported.
Before you finish decorating your classroom or printing your first-week plans, consider sending a message, postcard, or video. Those small gestures help you start the year with meaningful relationships already in place.
TEACH, SHARE, INSPIRE
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