I got introduced to Parent Teacher Home Visits when I was a student at Sacramento State. I was a student teacher getting my credential, and I was placed at a school site in Sacramento City Unified School District. It was a dual-language program, and my host teacher invited me on a home visit.

That first time, I didn’t really have any expectations. I remember we walked to the home because it wasn’t too far from the school. We went in, and as it turns out, it was a lovely experience. I remember thinking back at my experience in elementary school and how it would have been a great way for my teachers to connect with my family and myself. I had a home visit as a child, in the sixth grade, and it wasn’t a good experience. What I remember was my teacher coming in and telling my family not to let me hang out with certain kids at school, and then I found out that he did the same thing with other families, warning them not to let their kids hang out with me. I thought, gosh, if someone had come into my home and just gotten to know me and know my family’s hopes and dreams for me, it would have been a whole other experience growing up.

After I received my credential and began my first year in teaching, I got laid off; it was a time when there were a lot of layoffs happening. Then I got a job at Sacramento City Unified School District in a dual-language class setting. It was the same as my experience with the first home visit. Once I got used to everything as a new teacher there, I finally pulled this awesome strategy out of my pocket and thought, okay, I’m ready; I need to start doing home visits. From the first home visit that I did, I could not stop because I could not see myself starting the school year any other way than by getting to know my families and students, even before the school year would begin.

The Start of My PTHV Practice

The first home visit that I went on through Sac City proved to me that home visits impacted everyone. I had a student in kindergarten. Her name was Crystal, and every day just got more difficult for her to come into the classroom. She would cry so much. Her sister would bring her in, and she’d have to stay with her to console her. I would tell the sister to leave Crystal so she could go. But it got worse and worse to the point where I had to go out to the front of the school to get her.

I was a crier when I started kindergarten, so I knew and understood what Crystal was feeling. That was when I knew this was where I needed to begin my home visits—with Crystal. So I talked to her mom. I said, “Hey, let’s try this. It might open her up. I want to make a connection with her. That could be what’s missing here.”

So we scheduled the visit, and I showed up. It was Mom and Crystal. And then I heard barking, and I asked Crystal, “Oh, is that your dog?” And she said, “Yes, it’s Ruffles, my dog.” I asked to see the dog, so she brought Ruffles in. She told me about Ruffles and how she would take care of him and feed him. After that, any chance I got back into the classroom, I would bring up Ruffles. I would read a story, for example, and there’d be a dog in the story. And I’d say, “Oh Crystal, it’s just like your dog Ruffles!” Crystal and I would have a special moment in class with other students, but it was just the two of us knowing what I was talking about.

And she stopped crying.

Kindergarten is already really challenging now, and then with it being a dual-language classroom, we were concerned about her learning—speaking, reading, and writing in two languages. The home visit got her to feel comfortable enough to not just come into the classroom but also start picking up on the learning and on the singing the songs and going over sounds and letters and writing because up until then, I just wanted her to stop crying. There was no way we could focus on the academics. After that visit, not only did she come in ready to learn, she blossomed and began talking and making friends. I felt that connection of me going in and getting to know her as an adult she could trust changed our relationship.

A funny story about these two kids. I recently went to a quinceañera, and the first thing they brought up was their home visit! 10 years later!

Teachers: Yes, You Can Do This

Taking 30 minutes out of your day to visit a family and learn from the family and the student is the best professional learning you will ever receive. I was that teacher who spent many summers and evenings attending workshops and training on curriculum, strategies, and anything that would help me. And yeah, I picked up one or two strategies, made connections, and met people. But when I started doing Parent Teacher Home Visits and getting to know families and having families get to know me was what made me a better teacher for my students.

I think it’s the best use of my time, or it will be the best use of your time to sit and listen to families and really get to know them and learn from them.

My Hope and Dream for PTHV’s Future

I’m so proud to be connected to Parent Teacher Home Visits. My hope and dream are that we continue spreading the joy and the love of what a true home visit is all about. And that we can reach out to more districts, not just here in the United States but across countries, because building a relationship anywhere is building a relationship. It works everywhere. I also hope to continue my relationship with PTHV because, honestly, that has kept me going; the support and collaboration have made me a better teacher.