The move
Make two-minute positive calls to two families a week about a student’s specific effort or improvement, and log them so every student gets one.
See how it works
- Pick twoFrom the log
- Note one thingSpecific, this week
- Call2 min, 100% good news
- Tell the studentNext day
- Log itName and date
At a glance
- Time in class
- None. About 10 minutes a week outside class.
- Prep
- None
- Materials
- Phone, a simple call log
- Grouping
- Two families a week
- Use it when
- Every week, all year
Why it works
Most calls home bring bad news. A good-news call builds trust with families and makes later conversations easier. In a randomized study, regular teacher calls and messages to families increased homework completion and on-task behavior.
Step by step
In class: about 4–5 min
- 1Pick two students1 minute
- 2Note one specific thing1 minute
- 3Call2 minutes each
- 5Tell the student10 seconds, next day
- 6Log it10 seconds
- Pick two students1 minuteChoose from the log, starting with students you haven’t called.
- Note one specific thing1 minuteEffort, growth, kindness or a strategy you saw this week.
- Call2 minutes each“Hi, this is [name], [student]’s teacher. Nothing’s wrong. I’m calling with good news. This week [student] [specific thing]. I wanted you to know.”
- Voicemail is fineLeave the same message.
- Tell the student10 seconds, next day“I called home yesterday to tell them about your work on ___.”
- Log it10 secondsName, date, what you shared.
See it in action
“Ava helped a new student find the bathroom and the lunch line all week.”
“Marcus turned in every homework assignment this week, up from two last week.”
“Priya’s argument in today’s debate was one of the strongest I’ve heard this year.”
Watch out for
- Calling only top students: work through the whole roster.
- Sneaking in a concern: keep good-news calls 100% positive.
- Language barriers: use your district’s interpretation service or a translated message.
Level up
- Let the student listen in on speaker.
- Have students nominate a classmate for a call.
Make it work for everyone
- Multilingual families: use an interpreter or a translated text message.
- IEP and 504 supports: share progress toward their goals.
- Families who are hard to reach: try a text or note home.
Tech option
Your district’s messaging app works when calls aren’t possible; keep the message specific.
Resources
Printables
A two-column log (name, date) is enough.
Pairs well with
Reflect
Did anything change with students whose families got a call?
Evidence
ModerateKraft, M. A., & Dougherty, S. M. (2013). The effect of teacher-family communication on student engagement: Evidence from a randomized field experiment. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 6(3), 199–222. Frequent teacher-to-family contact improved homework completion, on-task behavior and participation.
Find the research: Kraft (2013)