Example:
I got my first teaching job mid-year. I sent home a letter with the students on my first day introducing myself, telling how the rest of the semester was going to go, explaining my rules and procedures, and listing my contact information. I had 125 students, or else I would have called each child's home. I am currently taking the year off of teaching, but in my next job, I will do things differently.
I plan to send home a letter as soon as I get my class list. I will also do personal phone calls. I feel this will set a good tone with my students' parents. I will communicate with my parents weekly through a newsletter. I will use email, phone, and planning time to talk with my parents about their children. I will not only talk about the problems in my class; I will make sure to also discuss the good times.
What do you do? Blog? Newsletter? Email chain? Phone calls? Tell us all about it! Let's open up our line of communication!
Hi Jessica!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that communication is very important. I communicate with all of my parents at the beginning of each year, letting them know who I am and all of my expectations for their children as well as what I will teach. I ask them to sign this letter and send me their phone numbers and email, so that I can better communicate with them during the year.
Dianne Davis
At the school I am teaching we have to keep up with a parent contact log. Each time we contact a parent, either by phone, email, letter, etc. we write it in are log. This log shows what kind of communication we have with our parents. Most of my communication is through email and phone calls. It tracks if it is behavior, grades, and other stuff as well. I do send home a syllabus at the beginning of the semester of the rules and expectations of the students. The parents and students must sign it saying that they have read it. The best communication I use is email, because it keeps things personal between that student.
ReplyDeleteDDavis- Having parents sign the letter is a great idea! It definitely holds them accountable and gives you proof of your expectations.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn- I love the idea of a communication log! This will keep you protected on your end from misunderstandings. It's sad that our world is this way, but many people will try to back out of what they say. A communication log is written proof of converstaions!
I send a letter home to introduce myself at the beginning of each school year. I give the parents all of my contact information and ask what type of communication works best for them. I send home a weekly newsletter to the parents with important dates, upcoming events, classroom projects, etc... The netter is sent home in the student's folders, I also send an e-mailed letter to the parents that have provided their e-mail. This works very well at this time. I also text parents and parents text me with quick questions or last minute things that may arise with their child. I have not had a problem with parents texting me on my cell but I am aware that it could be a problem at some point. Our school also requires a parent contact communication log that I fill out any time I have a parent conference or phone conference. I always keep all communication with parents through agendas and parent letters as well; this is just in case a problem should ever arise. I feel contact with parents is just as important with positive conferences and notes as it is with negative conferences. I don't want the parents to think I only call or contact them when there is a problem.
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas! I definitely think documentation is so important! I'm glad you told me about texting. I was wondering how teachers' experiences with that have been.
ReplyDeleteAs I entered my first year of teaching, my amazing principle advised me to call each parent, all 150 of them, during the first few weeks of school as an introduction. I provided my planning period, contact number, and email address. I informed them that I would also be sending a biweekly progress report via mail or email. They were very welcoming and I actually experienced a great communication relationship with the parents who wanted to be informed about their child's progress, rather good or bad.
ReplyDeleteI also created a facebook fan page as a teacher where only parents could be added a as friend. This allowed students to communicate with me through their guardians account; accountability. I did not run into any issues having this page. I was able to make status to remind parents of upcoming exams and other announcements. They really appreciated the efforts made to keep them in the loop.
The facebook fan page is a great idea! Most everyone has a facebook now, and I have been looking for a responsible way to use it.
ReplyDelete