1. Weekly Newsletters
Parents NEED to know what is going on in their child�s class. In your newsletters you may include current lessons/units, home extension activities in current lessons (not exactly homework just fun stuff to do to enrich the learning), student/family of the week, teacher�s biography, upcoming events at school or in your area, news of past events, projects or units, invitation to class anytime, student news (by students).
2. Web page
Same as newsletter except you may want to include calendar, more in depth lesson plans and lunch/breakfast menu.
3. Monthly Progress Reports
Report cards should not be a surprise. Progress reports do not take the place of report cards but do help you, the parent and the student keep track of progress and make plans if the child is having difficulty or if the child is finding the work too easy. Progresses reports may be done in evaluation form or check off form. You should only be evaluating skills not units or subjects.
4. Beginning of the year Postcard to students.
5. Beginning of the year letter to parents.
This letter will be given to the parents on the first week of class and is separate than the first day of class letter. It will include the following: rules, procedures, expectations, grading system, academic goals for the year (broad), social goals for the year (broad), dates of tests, school holidays, your bio, three month outline of lesson plans, invitation to classroom anytime, classroom wish list, and any other question you can imagine a parent asking of you.
6. Open House Night
Have a getting to know you session where the parents voices are heard. You may need to have this 20 min. before or after the school open house, have a classroom cookie bakeoff and have the kids vote � be sure to make a book of classroom cookie recipes, have an award for the first family to arrive, have a raffle for a gift basket.
7. Reading Night
Have a classroom reading curriculum night. If you can pull administrators or other teachers in on this all the better. You want to poll your parents for the best time for event, weekend, evening or during the day. You may want to get the PTA to have a book exchange or book fair at the same time. On hand you want to have available for parents, the standards for your grade, the previous grade and the upcoming grade, tips to help readers (games and activities), showcase your students made books, award a free book to every family that shows up, year long goals in your classroom regarding reading, award to the first family to show up, raffle off a very special book or gift basket. Every family receives a certificate of completing reading night! Refreshments should be served.
8. Math Night
Have a classroom math curriculum night. If you can pull administrators or other teachers in on this all the better. You want to poll your parents for the best time for event, weekend, evening or during the day. You may want to pull the PTA to have a math game night at the same time. You�ll want to explain arithmetic and the math strands. On hand you�ll want to have available for parents, the standards for your grade, the previous grade and the upcoming grade, tips for math (games and activities), showcase your students made books on math, have a free hand made math game for every family, year long goals in your classroom regarding math, award to the first family to show up, raffle off a very special math game or gift basket. Every family receives a certificate of completing math night! Refreshments should be served.
9. Writing Night
Have a classroom writing curriculum night. If you can pull administrators or other teachers in on this all the better. You want to poll your parents for the best time for event, weekend, evening or during the day. You�ll want to explain six-trait writing and the writing process. You may want to get the PTA to have a writing contest night at the same time. On hand you want to have available for parents, the standards for your grade, the previous grade and the upcoming grade, tips to help writing, showcase your students made books, award a free writing tablet and pencil to every family that shows up, year long goals in your classroom regarding writing, award to the first family to show up, raffle off a very special book or gift basket. Every family receives a certificate of completing writing night! Refreshments should be served.
10. End of Year Celebration
This is a student planned party. Have a summer reading list on hand, Year books (you can make them), next years standards, and anything else you can think of.
11. End of Year Postcards
Approximately two weeks after school is out send a postcard to each family thanking them for their time and energy.
12. Parent Teacher Conferences
This is not a time for parents or students to be surprised about students progress. They should have already been told and an action plan already started. This is a time to talk about progress, further planning, tips, and standards. Student portfolios should be available. Refreshments should be available. Great Parent and Great Student certificates should be handed out.
13. Home visit or home telephone calls
Do either one and hear the parents voice and learn about their culture.
14. Parent Information Board
This is a place in your classroom that has parents business cards (nice advertising for those who have home businesses), interest and hobbies.
15. First day of class letter to parents This is primarily for those parents who want to spend the ENTIRE first day of class with their child. J Hey, I was one. Include you bio (so they know you know what you are doing), Firs day of school agenda, first week of school outline agenda, hand made postcards for them to mail or drop notes off to their child and any other information such as school phone number, address, lunch time, start time, and school out time.
16. Guest books Be sure to have a guest book on hand in your classroom, probably near your parent information board, so that parents can write you a note every now and then. Especially on curriculum nights.
17. Pictures of children Be sure to have pictures of parents and students visible in classroom throughout year. A classroom tree is a nice idea.