The elements of component 4c are:
- Information about the instructional program
- The teacher frequently provides information to families about the instructional program.
- Information about individual students
- The teacher frequently provides information to families about students’ individual progress.
- Engagement of families in the instructional program
- The teacher frequently and successfully offers engagement opportunities to families so that they can participate in the learning activities.
A proficient teacher:
The teacher provides frequent and appropriate information to families about the instructional program and conveys information about individual student progress in a culturally sensitive manner. The teacher makes some attempts to engage families in the instructional program.What does this look like?
- Sending home a weekly newsletter to describe current class activities and learning goals, PBL projects, field trips, etc.
- Creating a monthly progress report that is sent home with each student.
- Keeping StandardScore up to date so that parents have access to current student information.
- Utilizing BB9 to house instructional materials so parents can connect to the work happening at school.
- Involving parents in at home learning opportunities.
A distinguished teacher:
The teacher communicates frequently with families in a culturally sensitive manner, with students contributing to the communication. The teacher responds to family concerns with professional and cultural sensitivity. The teacher’s efforts to engage families in the instructional program are frequent and successful.What does this look like?
- Students create information to take home that shows what they are learning in science.
- Students maintain a daily reflection log describing what they are learning that goes home each week for parents to read.
- Students design an inquiry project to work on with their family connected to the learning at school.
Here are two examples of communications that are happening in our schools:
This infographic has ideas for utilizing social media to connect and communicate with parents:
Other resources on Communicating with Families:
- What Parents Want in School Communication (from Edutopia)
- How to Strengthen Parent Involvement and Communication (from Edutopia)
Reflect in the comments:
How have you involved and connected families to the learning that is happening in your classroom?
I connect with my families in many ways... daily returned emails, weekly Friday communication with anything that may not be included in our bi-weekly Level 2 newsletter - quick reminders for due dates, or things that may pertain to my homeroom only. Our level 2 team updates and sends out our Level 2 newsletter every other Friday - it includes what we are currently teaching in literacy and math, STEaM, spelling and any Level 2 information and events - included in this newsletter is a calendar and links to helpful websites.
ReplyDeleteI have also invited parents in to my literacy class to view a mini lesson and to stay to read with their child, respond to their reading, etc.
I like the idea of a weekly reflection journal where students are reflecting and writing what they are learning. I need to incorporate more student involvement in this area.
Like Jenny, I communicate in many ways with parents, starting with our bi-weekly level 2 newsletter: http://goo.gl/yKvwGm
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I send home emails to parents with quick updates or reminders as needed, and I contact individual parents on a regular basis as well. Something that has also helped me is a google doc that I created to keep a record of all types of communication with parents, including date, method, and reason for contact. I agree that a weekly reflection journal could really help to share information with parents, and help students to think about their learning, so I will have to get that going!
i have daily journals for all my students that go home with them. I email with parents often as well as communicate on the phone. Level 1 also has a blog that they update on a weekly basis that informs families of weeks events.
ReplyDeleteWe use a blog as one form of communication with families. While we'd like to do more with the blog as far as communicating about instruction and growth, it's a start. Take a look if you're interested. http://hawthorne-level1.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteFollowing rollout I'd just like to add that I've been encouraging kids to take a stroll through their day with their parents by sharing some of the things they created or captured on their ipad throughout the day. I think this will promote a much more engaging response to the famous parent question, "What did you do in school today?"
ReplyDelete