How to Conduct a Home Visit

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

• "Reestablish rapport [by identifying yourself and explaining your purpose].

• Go over purposes and dates for upcoming school events (e.g., open house, parent-teacher conference, expected call from teacher, parent workshop, etc.).

• Describe the child's daily routine in the classroom.

• Go over the discipline policy for the classroom.

• Go over the homework policy.

• Discuss ways to help with homework (provide family-friendly homework ideas).

• Ask the parent if any learning problems have been observed at home of if they have any other specific concerns.

• Discuss how the parent can help to solve these problems.

• Close the meeting.

• Evaluate yourself after each session.

• Send a follow-up note or call to reinforce your visit." (p. 88)

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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