What I say to parents who never respond — and what changed
For years I had a group of parents who simply never responded to anything. Emails, phone calls, notes home, nothing. I tried something different this fall: I started sending shorter, more specific messages. Not "here's a weekly update" — "your student did something specific today and I wanted you to know." Response rate from previously non-responsive parents: up significantly. My working theory is that shorter and more specific is less overwhelming than longer and general. It also signals that…