Regarding parents:
Written communication is probably the most
effective and effective way. There can be several ways to communicate with
parents. Newsletters are commonly used to share information about what will be
happening in the classroom. These letters can be weekly or monthly depending on
your preference. As an educator you should incorporate the same color, quality,
and paper size for all newsletters, use everyday language (about fifth grade
level reading), and ensure grammar, spell checks, and proofing the
information.
Schools to home notebooks are a great way to
keep communication open between parents and teachers. The notebook stays
in the student’s backpack each day as they come in the teacher will check to
see if the parents left a note or vice versa when the students go home the
parents can check to see if the teacher wrote something in the notebook (it can
be as simple as a reminder of an upcoming event). To maximize efficiency,
alternate day or twice weekly notes may be adequate, as long as the
communication is frequent enough to engage parents and to monitor student
success.
Phone call home can be a teacher calling home to
celebrate a child's successful school experience. However, the contact is to
share a concern about the child. Teachers should strive to make these
interactions as productive as possible. The teacher can call parents monthly to
report any good or bad situations that might be taking part at school. The
teacher can also answer any questions that the parents might have.
Parent-teacher conference is another way that
teachers can communicate with parents. This usually happens twice a year
but if need the teacher can ask to have more conferences with the parents.
Teachers can review student’s files to make sure that they have all the
information needed for the meeting.
At the very beginning of the school the teacher
should send home a handbook for parents and students. This can have all
the essential information about how the classroom works. From grades and
behavior to birthdays and attendance. It is all there. Parents sign
and return the bottom slip. This way no parent cab say they did not
know!!!!
At the very beginning of school I send home a
handbook for parents and students. This has all the essential information
about how our classroom works, from grades and behavior to birthdays and
attendance. It is all there. Parents sign and return the bottom
slip. This way no parent can say they did not know!!!
Finally in today's world; technology. Teachers
can email parents about any concern that they have about the students or they
can email a parents just saying how well the student had done that day, Emails
are a great way to keep parents aware of any situations that might be taking
part at school. One new thing that teachers are using now a day is the
Classroom DOJO. This is teachers communicating with parents live. Teachers
can give point for good behavior, bad behavior and even share pictures of what
the class is working on at the exact moment. Parents are able to reply right
way about anything that the teacher posted.
For the above teacher depending on the area they
are teaching in can get everything that is written to be translated to the
language that they are dealing with. Today everything we do can be
translated. When teachers have things translated they will form a trust with
the parents and the parents will feel comfortable coming to the teacher for whatever
the situation is.
Teachers can use anyone if the communication
tips throughout the school year. Ask the parents from day one which form of communication
works best for them and use it for the whole year.
Regarding Paraprofessionals:
Communication is the key to a successful and
coordinated classroom.
·
The teacher needs to communicate with the paraprofessionals in a
clear, receptive, and responsive manner.
·
Provide clear daily direction in coordinating plans, schedules,
and tasks.
·
Inform and update paraprofessionals regarding student information.
·
Create an atmosphere of trust, cooperation, respect, and loyalty.
·
Share common vocabulary and nonverbal cues.
Teacher and paraprofessional must understand
what the role of the paraprofessional is. A paraprofessional’s job consists of
the following:
·
Utilizes multiple modes of communication with students for the
purpose of enhancing students’ accurate comprehension.
·
Assists students who are deaf/hard of hearing through the use of
alternate modes of communication (e.g., oral interpreting strategies) to provide
equal communication access.
·
Assists students with prompts as required for the purpose of
facilitating their comprehension of a task, maximizing their independence, and
assimilation within the school environment.
·
Assists students’ comprehension by routinely checking adaptive
equipment.
·
Communicates with teachers and other members of the instructional
team regarding assigned students’ daily progress for the purpose of
participating in needs assessments and/or assisting in evaluating progress.
·
Performs a variety of clerical duties (e.g., note taking,
accessing scripts of videos, requesting closed captioning, etc.) for the
purpose of supporting instructional program and specific classroom
requirements.
·
Assists students for the purpose of providing supervision of
students and ensuring their safety.
The responsibilities of a paraprofessional are working
under direct supervision using standardized procedures; leading, guiding,
and/or coordinating others; and operating within a defined budget. Utilization
of some resources from other work units may be required to perform the job's
functions. There is a continual opportunity to have some impact on the
Organization’s services.
You have a one hour time frame on institute day
(the day before school) to meet with the paraprofessionals that will be in your
classroom. School starts tomorrow; what information would you
include in the first meeting? Introductions, the paraprofessional’s roles and responsibilities
(one-on-one, assist with personal care, support social skills instruction,
and supporting general education instruction). Teacher should let the
paraprofessionals know that he/she need to be open to ideas, flexible,
confident, understanding and responsive, motivated and dedicated.
The teacher should reassure the
paraprofessionals even though they are the lead teacher, they will not
treat the paraprofessionals less, or kind of like degrade them, or be negative
to them because they are assistants. Let them know you are a team
and you are there for the sake of helping the students.
Teachers should also let the paraprofessionals
know who they will be working with and give the information that is needs
in order for them to better serve the students better.
Letter to Parents:
Dear Parents,
I am your child's 3rd grade teacher, and I
delighted to have your child in my class this year. I am looking forward
to a very successful year and I know you are too. I have high
expectations for your child and I will do all that I can to help your child
achieve those expectations.
You can help. I will be expecting all work
assigned in class to be completed. Of course, all children do not work at
the same pace. Some children will get their work done in class and some
will not. Whether or not your child gets his or her work done in class
has no effect on their grade. If your child does not complete as
assignment in class, he or she will be required to complete it at home.
The way you can help is to ask your child every school day if schoolwork
needs to be done, and if so, make sure your child completes the assignment,
also if you can please check the assignment notebook and sign after your child
has completed all his or her assignments would be appreciated.
In addition, I will be assigning projects in
various subjects throughout the school year. Projects are to be completed
at home. Your help and support will not only make your child more
successful in school this year but will instill good study habits that will
last a lifetime.
If you have expertise is a specific field, an
unusual hobby, or has a different culture that you would like to share, please
let me know. I would be happy to visit
with about about possibility of you sharing with our class.
Finally, I want you to know that one of my most
important goals this year to keep the lines of communication open with you.
I am available every day to talk with you between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00
a.m. and between 3:15 p.n. and 4:30 p.m. Please do not hesitate to contact me
at 708-636-2002 ext.312 or tjaber@crsd1275.org if you have any questions or
concerns during the year. I will be sending home the information needed
to sign up for the DOJO system that will allow you to see your child engaging
in school activities. It will also allow you to see if your child is
having a good or bad day. You will be able to send me messages and I will
be able to respond right away. One final thing, we would love to have you
in our classroom. You are always welcome to visit the classroom, you may come
to do a craft with the child or just read a book let me know at least two days
in advance.
I consider it a great privilege and
responsibility to be your child’s teacher this year, and look forward to
meeting each of you.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jaber
Letter to Paraprofessionals:
Dear Paraprofessional name,
Welcome to our classroom I’m glad that you are
joining our team and I look forward to working with you the school year.
I am excited to
have you become a valued member of our class for this year. The classroom can
be a very fun, exciting, and overwhelming place. I am glad that student
name will have your support to navigate the classroom and assignments.
My goal is to
have him/her be as independent as possible. When working on a project with student name, please keep the following tips and
resources in mind: 1.Projects are about the process as much as the product. 2.
Ask probing questions, give choices, but don’t make decisions for the student.
3. Do not intervene with fine motor skills; allow the work to be 100% the
students within reason. If we, as a team, find the project is not
developmentally appropriate, let me know so I can make accommodations first. 4.
I welcome suggestions from you on any additional techniques or tools I can use
to help student name grow and learn to his/her
greatest potential.
I may have the
education background, but you REALLY know your student and we will have to work
together to make things work best for him/her. I have designated a special blue
tub for materials and extras for your use in class. This will be kept on the
counter behind my desk. I have cleared the top of the materials shelf on the
North wall for you to use as a desk/note taking area and to keep any extra
supplies you need.
The routine of
the class will be as consistent as possible (Example schedule: students arrive,
do morning DOL, take out homework (to be checked in), I provide some
instruction and discussion time, the students work on the material given
(depending on subject being taught) , closing discussion time, clean up, and
head off home). If there will be any major changes to the schedule, or lesson
plan for the day, I will provide the information about the change to you with
as much notice as I can, so you will be able to give student name some
advance preparation for the change.
Our working
together will be most effective for student name with
open lines of communication. Please feel free to reach out to me any time
either through email, phone or schedule a time to sit down together. My Email: tjaber@crsd1275.org My Phone #: 708-262-1922
I thank you in advance for all your hard work!
As you know, one of the keys of a successful
classroom is communication. If you have
any questions, please feel free to ask! Let’s have a great year!!
Sincerely,
Mrs Jaber
