How to Prepare for a Home Visit

Chrispeels, Boruta, and Daugherty (1988) make the following suggestions for a teacher or parent volunteer who is preparing for a home visit:

• "Get information from teachers about the student's classroom performance, daily classroom routines, and discipline and homework policies. Make notes and be sure you understand the specifics for each child. Try to find out about any current events that may be affecting families in their communities (e.g., crime).

• Contact parents and establish rapport (see tips to remember when calling). Explain that you want to give the parents information about:

• How his/her child spends time in school and what happens in a typical day in the child's classroom.

• What's happening at the school in general.

• Ideas for helping his/her child at home.

Be sure to let parents know that you feel your communication with them about these things will help their child do better in school.

• Set up an appointment time when parents can talk for about 45 minutes, uninterrupted. Be clear about where the meeting will happen, how to get there, and whether an interpreter is needed." (p. 87)

Adapted from material presented by Reginald Clark at a workshop to train home visitors in San Diego. Courtesy of the San Diego County Office of Education.

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