Communicating with Families
Communicating with the families of your students is essential to building an inclusive and successful community with the classroom. Involving parents in classroom is extremely beneficial and creates a trusting relationship between teachers and families. When communicating with families or parents, it is crucial to be mindful of the diversity of students. Some families may not own a computer or even a phone. Using a variety of communication methods is important when working with families.
Classroom Website
Implementing a classroom website can be fun and effective when communicating with families! In our tech-savvy world, the use of a website can be accessed easily and from many devices such as computers, tablets and cell phones. Teachers can post assignments, classroom updates and student work samples easily and is able to be viewed by parents/families who have the access to. Self-managing students can utilize the website as well to see homework they might have forgotten to write down. Classroom goals and expectations can also be viewed easily by parents and students. Prompts and feedback can be incorporated on your classroom website as well. This allows parents to directly contact teachers with any questions, concerns or feedback they would like to give. Websites can be used as two-way street, if implemented as such. Resources such as Weebly, Google Classroom, and Remind App are great for designing an effective classroom website!
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Newsletter
A newsletter is a creative way to keep parents and families up to date of your classroom! A newsletter typically includes content students are learning in multiple subjects. It might be wise to give a brief explanation of the content if parents are unfamiliar with it and want to help their child with understanding it. If there are important dates coming up such as field trips, school events or testing, be sure to keep parents updated on those! Providing strategies for homework and study tips may also be useful to include. Remember, a newsletter may be the only form of communication parents/families have so it is important to be specific and provide contact information (phone, email, address). It is also important to be constant with creating and mailing newsletters. Determine a schedule that works best for you and the families of your students. Creating a newsletter is also quite simple! Microsoft Word has well-designed templates that you may use and edit to fit your style! Attached is an example newsletter created for a fifth grade class.
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ms._ripleys_class_newletter.pdf | |
File Size: | 423 kb |
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Phone Calls and Emailing
Calling home can be a useful and supportive strategy when communicating with parents. In the past, a call home meant a student was in trouble in regards to academics or behavior. Teachers today are attempting to change the stigma of the phone call home by making it a constant and friendly experience. Calling parents frequent demonstrates a teacher's care and dedication to the child. Calling to praise a student on an accomplishment or action he or she did in the class will support the relationship between student and teacher. "Sharing successes with parents is easier if the teachers develop a habit of recording their observations of students" (Davis & Yang, 2014). Writing observations of a couple of students a day can help with developing a routine of calling home often about both positive and negative observations, If a teacher has to call home to discuss a negative situation concerning the child, follow the sandwich model. Begin the conversation discussing a positive attribute about the child. Following the positive point, discuss the problem the student may be experiencing. It is important to not put blame on the child or the family. Provide support and strategies to solving the obstacle.
Emailing is also a fast and easy way to contact parents in regards to the student. Similar to the website, many have access to their email from multiple devices. Emailing also provides a method for two-way conversation. Phone calls and emailing are simple and fast ways to contact parents on small matters. |
Parent Volunteers
Inviting parents into the classroom has a significant impact on relationships, classroom community and academic performance. Reaching out to parents and asking for them to visit the classroom on a special occasion or weekly can build a healthy relationship between the parent and the teacher. Parents can give insight on what may or may not be working with their child. Parents also get first-hand experience to observe their child in the school atmosphere and recognize their strengths and needs in academics and social skills. Students benefit from this experience by having more adult attention and support within the classroom. A "parents' presence can add energy and inspiration" to the classroom (Davis & Yang, 2014). Parents involved in the classroom are able to learn the concepts and material their child is learning. This lets parents have a better idea of the academic goals expected of their child and can assist them at home if needed. Send home parent volunteer form to all families! Use the example as your own or make it your own! Simply inviting parents into the classroom can go a long way as well.
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parent_volunteer_form.pdf | |
File Size: | 73 kb |
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Parent-Teacher Conference
Parent-teacher conferences are important to improving instruction and meeting the needs of students. Parents can provide an insight about their child's strengths and weaknesses. Conferences are a great way to show students' progress and work samples to parents. Although phone calls and emails are quick and easy, conferences provides a more intimate and confidential space for parents and teachers to discuss the student. To ensure a larger turnout, send personal invitations, in addition to the school wide notifications. Parents will see your dedication to their child and want to meet with them. During conferences, teachers can accurately explain classroom expectations, academic and social goals, and daily routines. Presenting parents/guardians with as much information can be overwhelming and difficult to comprehend at once. Completing a conference form that discusses goals, interests, strengths, areas of improvement, etc. can be used as a reference for teachers to plan instruction. This form also allows parents to see where their child is at currently and the specific goals to be reached. Conferences are a great time to establish lines of communication between the families and the teacher. Provide a list of multiple methods you will be using to communicate and ask for family's thoughts of what works best for them.
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(13 Free Printables for Teachers, 2015)
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Parent Survey
The purpose of a parent survey is to get to know the student and their home life better. Parent surveys give insight on the culture and family structure of the students' home to assist with have a diverse and culturally responsive classroom. Surveys should be written with simple directions and vocabulary. Questions should be thoughtful, however, the survey overall should not be intense. The purpose of the surveys should be accurately shared with parents. This is a tremendous way make parents feel involved and a part of the classroom, as well as their child. Getting to know students' families supports building a welcoming and inclusive community in the classroom. Sending out survey's prior to the school year gives the teacher a better idea of her students and can better prepare.
Questions to consider (Aguilar, 2014).
1. What do you see as your child's greatest strengths or skills? Tell me about a time when you saw your child demonstrating these skills.
2. Next June, what do you hope your child says about his/her experience in school this year? What's the story you hope he/she would tell?
3. What was your experience like in this grade? How do you remember that year of school?
4. What are your fears or concerns about your child in this year of school?
5. How and when would you like me to be in touch with you this year? What do you hope I'd communicate with you about?
6. Is there anything else you can tell me about your child that you think would help me support his/her learning?
7. Is there a question you hope I'll ask you about your child?
Questions to consider (Aguilar, 2014).
1. What do you see as your child's greatest strengths or skills? Tell me about a time when you saw your child demonstrating these skills.
2. Next June, what do you hope your child says about his/her experience in school this year? What's the story you hope he/she would tell?
3. What was your experience like in this grade? How do you remember that year of school?
4. What are your fears or concerns about your child in this year of school?
5. How and when would you like me to be in touch with you this year? What do you hope I'd communicate with you about?
6. Is there anything else you can tell me about your child that you think would help me support his/her learning?
7. Is there a question you hope I'll ask you about your child?