I believe that there needs to be a strong relationship between the student's school, home and community to aid in the student's success. I plan on a very strong relationship developing in my classroom between these three aspects that are so deeply a part in the lives of my students.

The following are some ways that I plan on to accomplish this:

• Class Handbook: I created the handbook in order for parents to better understand how our classroom is run. It includes important informatiion including: schedule, rules, routines, and more.
• Classroom Weekly Newsletters: I have created these since the middle part of my internship year. It allowed me to send home reminders for things such as field trips or any other special activities or events that were going on. It also allowed me to show the families of my students what was going on for that week in each of the different subject areas. For example, what their child was studying or that they had a quiz coming up. I also listed some activities in which the families could help do home to help their child.
• Classroom Website: I created a website for the my classroom before I was hired, but due to district guidelines I am unable to use it. It can be viewed at: Miss Closs' Class.
• Parent Contact: I believe that parents should not only be contacted when there is something wrong. They should have positive contact as well. As a teacher, I do not just plan on contacting parents during conferences, I also plan to send home positive notes about their child.
• Parent Helpers: I believe that parent volunteers can serve as wonderful help in all classrooms. Parents do not necessarily have to come to the class to help, they can help their own child at home, they can do some things at home to help the teacher (ex. cut pieces out for a craft project). Depending on what the school allows, parents can read to students and also help out with parties and field trips. There are so many ways that a parent could contribute to their child's classroom.
• Field Trips: I have taken students on multiple field trips in the past. I co-planned a field trip to Nokomis Learning Center for my students to learn more about the Native Americans that we had been studying in social studies. My 2nd grade field trips included a walking tour of the city of Mt. Clemens where students listened to a presentation at the County Building, as well as interviewed local shopowners and visiting a historical home to learn more about our community. I also went to the Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center to learn more about habitats.
• Family Activities: As a member of my school community, I believe that it is very important to be involved in family night activities. During the the fall of my internship year, I was involved with Family Science Night where students brought their families to school to be engaged in multiple science experiments. During the spring, I was involved with the Family Fitness Fair where I participated by being a member of a group of teachers that did an aerobics demonstration for the students and families.
• Community Visitors: I believe that having visitors come in from the community is very enriching to students. For example, if my class were to study dental health, I may invite a dentist to come in and speak to my class about it. I also believe this gives students a better idea of people in the "adult world" for when they grow up.
• Community Resources: I believe that communities have resources that should be shared with students. In the Detroit area, the auto industry can be used not only as a resource, but also be a connection to the curriculum. Students could solve math problems related to it for instance. There are so many community resources of all types in the Detroit area.