"It's a known fact. Teachers working in isolation make student
achievement a next-to-impossible feat."
Harry & Rosemary Wong
(Wong & Wong, 2009, p. 335)
I find it extremely important to be in communication with everyone who makes up and is involved with the school that I work in. This includes the parents, the students, administration, co-workers, other staff, and substitute teachers. Communication holds the school system together. In order to be able to affect the students education effectively, I need to know everything about that student and that will only come through good communication with everyone in the school system. Every form of communication will come in a different form and voice. Below is a list of the different ways I plan to communicate in order to gain and relay information about my students in order to give them the most fitting and individualized learning experience.
Pre-School Communication
A. Welcome Letter to Parents (Parent Questionnaire)
I plan to send out a welcome letter to the parents of my students two weeks before school begins. This letter will display my enthusiasm and preparedness for the coming school year. The letter will include the following information:
You can find my welcome letter by clicking HERE. (Sampson, 2012)
- My enthusiasm to meet them and their child
- What my classroom will display (Responsibility, Self-Confidence, and Safety & Comfort)
- How I wish the parents to be involved in their child's learning
- A parent questionnaire
- Homework and study ethics expected from the child and encouraged from the parents
- Supply list
- Knowledge of weekly emails and monthly newsletters
- Ways I plan to notify them of misbehavior
- Rules and procedures packet to be sent home with child on the first day
You can find my welcome letter by clicking HERE. (Sampson, 2012)
B. Welcome Postcard to Students
I plan to send my students a postcard welcoming them to my class. An example of what I will write is the following:
Dear (Insert Student's Name),
I hope you are enjoying your summer vacation and are looking forward to returning to school very soon! I am your teacher, Miss Gascho. I am looking forward to getting to know you this year and helping you learn some fun knew things! I hope you are ready to explore, discover, and learn many new things. I promise to help you in any way you need this year and in return hope that you will help me by working hard! Relax and enjoy the rest of your break!
Miss Gascho
You can find my student welcome postcard by clicking HERE.
Dear (Insert Student's Name),
I hope you are enjoying your summer vacation and are looking forward to returning to school very soon! I am your teacher, Miss Gascho. I am looking forward to getting to know you this year and helping you learn some fun knew things! I hope you are ready to explore, discover, and learn many new things. I promise to help you in any way you need this year and in return hope that you will help me by working hard! Relax and enjoy the rest of your break!
Miss Gascho
You can find my student welcome postcard by clicking HERE.
Parents
"Nevertheless, no school can work well for children if parents and teachers
do not act in partnership on behalf of the children's best interests."
Dorothy H. Cohen
do not act in partnership on behalf of the children's best interests."
Dorothy H. Cohen
A. Classroom Promise Contribution
I plan to send out this letter to parents within the first week of school. Once the students have formulated the Classroom Promise, I will send out a letter containing the promise and will ask for parents suggestions or comments about the promise created by their children. If the parents wish, they can return their ideas to myself through their child or personally.
Due to not having an actual classroom promise formulated I have not created a document for this letter at the moment.
Due to not having an actual classroom promise formulated I have not created a document for this letter at the moment.
B. Weekly E-mail
I want to keep parents updated as much as possible so that they can see the progress their child is making in the classroom. For this reason, I will be sending parents an update e-mail weekly (every Friday). This will contain the following:
- Any topics or objectives covered throughout the week.
- Accomplishments made by the class as a whole.
- Upcoming events or reminders
C. Monthly Newsletter
To keep parents updated as to which units we are learning in the class or any major projects or events coming up I will be sending out a monthly newsletter called "From the Desk of Miss Gascho".
A blank document of the newsletter can be found HERE.
A blank document of the newsletter can be found HERE.
D. Notification of Misbehavior
I will be collecting the parent questionnaire which will indicate whether parents want me to notify them of misbehavior through e-mail or phone calls. I plan to call or e-mail any student's parents if the misbehavior continues to the point of the student filling out an Action Plan. The parents signature will be required on the back of the action plan.
E. Field Trip Forms
In the case that any field trips will be occurring a permission slip will be sent out to parents. There will also be a line available for parents to sign up to chaperon the field trips.
Substitute Teacher
A. Sub Tub
I will be creating a Sub Tub for an emergency or planned substitute teacher. I do not want any sub to feel panicked. For this reason I will include everything that I can to make sure that the day is run as smooth as possible and that the sub feels as comfortable as possible. This tub will be filled with useful information and activities for the sub to use. The following will be within the Sub Tub:
- Seating Chart/ Name Roster
- Sponge Activities
- Schedule of the Day
- List of Procedures and Rules
- List of Management Tips
- "While You Were Out" form - can be located HERE.
Administration
A. Principal Discipline Report & Welcomed Visitations
Any form of communication made to the principal or superintendent will be made in a professional manner. I will contact the principal by phone or e-mail about student misbehavior if a student reaches the point of filling out an Action Plan. I will also be welcoming the principal or superintendent into my classroom at any time to see what my students are learning. I wish to have a classroom where I am comfortable with any administration visits.
Other Teachers
A. Up-liftment/ Support/ Beg, Borrow, & Steal
I plan to collaborate with my co-workers, especially those within my grade or department. I will beg, borrow, and steal ideas from my colleagues in order to better my teaching style or classroom management and strategies. I believe that having positive relationships with those I work with will also make my "mental set" as Marzano puts it, more positive. I plan to surround myself with teachers who are just as passionate about their students and work than I am and who do not create negative discussions but instead uplift each other (Marzano, 2001).
B. Substitute Teacher Days
I will set up a few teachers that have neighboring classrooms with mine to help with any substitutes that may come in. I want the substitute to feel welcomed and comfortable and I believe that my coworkers can give them ideas about how my classroom is run or how my students behave.
Maintenance/Secretary/Food Service
A. Necessary Requests per. Happenstance
I plan to be in contact with maintenance, the secretary, and the food service provides as often as needed in the case that a situation arises. I also plan to hold positive relationships with these colleagues as they also play a vital role in the school system and in my student's lives.