Abstract
Parent and teacher communication has been linked to positive academic, and social and emotional outcomes for children. Establishing adequate parent and teacher communication can also lead to an increase in parent involvement, and help create parent-teacher partnerships. However, there are many discrepancies present in the ways elementary school teachers choose to engage with Latinx bilingual parents. The purpose of this project was to find ways to bridge and improve parent and teacher communication. The project used pláticas as the primary method to engage with Latinx bilingual parents because engaging in this form of dialogue was found to be a good culturally aware and participant-oriented way to talk to parents. During la plática parents were asked to share their concerns about the ways elementary school teachers communicate with them, and for recommendations to find ways to improve such communication. The data collected during the plática led to the creation and completion of a pamphlet directed at elementary school teachers with the recommendations voiced by Latinx bilingual parents. Improving and bridging communication with parents comes with countless benefits, therefore elementary school teachers and schools should invest more time and funding in engaging with Latinx bilingual parents.