Communication
Communication is an essential element for any relationship. In a school setting communication with several individuals contributes to how effective the relationships with my students are. This part of my profile explains how I plan to communicate with all the people I need to in order to make my students successful.
Students
I will constantly be in communication with students. Every day I will be complimenting students, communicating to them that I like what they are doing. When there is a behavior issue I have a process for communicating this as well. By asking a student to “Reset” I am letting them know that what they are doing needs to be changed. When a student fills out a “Rule Reminder” we will talk about what they did that was unacceptable and how the student can fix it. Every week I will go over the “Friday Folders” with students. This will be a time where we can talk openly about what is going on in the classroom. I will encourage students to let me know about any problems they are having or an area that they would like to see change in. If students do not want to tell me face to face they can always use the “Suggestion Box”.
Parents
Communication with parents is extremely important; which is why I will start building a relationship with parents before school starts. About three weeks before school starts I will send a letter home introducing myself as their child’s new teacher. This letter will give them all of my contact information, important facts about the upcoming year, and an invitation for them and their child to visit the classroom before school starts. During this visit I will be sure to welcome parents as partners in their child’s learning. I have included an example of what this letter home may look like. With the letter I have included a small card with my contact information. This is so that parents can put all my information someplace for easy access if they need to contact me quickly.
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Throughout the year I will be keeping in touch with parents through “Friday Folders”, signed “Rule Reminders”, and my “Weekly Reports”. “Rule Reminders” and “Friday Folders" must be signed by parents. My “Weekly Reports” will be sent home with the “Friday Folders” every week; it will contain information about the previous week and about the upcoming week. I will also be using this as a tool to encourage parents to continue their child’s learning at home. I include extra activities that parents can do with their child at home that will align with what the child is learning at school. I have included an example of a “Weekly Report” during my butterfly unit.
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In “Weekly Reports” I may ask parents to help me with activities at school. This may mean supplying materials or volunteering time. I will ask for both of these for field trips, class parties on holidays or when students have earned “Time”. One event that I hope all parents will attend is the end of the year party. We will end the school year by celebrating all the students have done.
Parents will also be contacted for the school-wide functions such as conferences and school plays. For conferences I will be making phone calls home to every family in an attempt to schedule time for every student’s parents to come in and talk.
Parents will be encouraged to call, email, or send me a note at any time, about any concern.
Parents will also be contacted for the school-wide functions such as conferences and school plays. For conferences I will be making phone calls home to every family in an attempt to schedule time for every student’s parents to come in and talk.
Parents will be encouraged to call, email, or send me a note at any time, about any concern.
Teachers
I will be talking to/emailing other grade level teachers to ask for insight as to what has worked for them and what has not. I will also talk to students’ previous teachers and the ones in the next grade level. Previous teachers will be able to provide me with information about where the student is at developmentally in all areas and what they have already learned. Future teachers will provide guidelines for what I should be preparing my students for.
Special Education teachers will be in and out of my classroom to work with students. I will keep in touch with them through meetings, email, IEP meetings, and person-to-person.
Special Education teachers will be in and out of my classroom to work with students. I will keep in touch with them through meetings, email, IEP meetings, and person-to-person.
Administration
I will develop a relationship with the administration of my building by keeping in constant communication with them. I will be respectful of their authority and implement the standards and procedures they have set up for the school. I will attend all staff meetings and functions and participate in school wide functions. Administration will be invited to visit my classroom at any time, but I will let them know through email about special projects or activity days that they may like to see. The principal and I will partner in handling misbehavior; if a student has to fill out more than two “Rule Reminders” they will be sent to the principal. I will be sure to have a meeting with the principal about this when it happens.
Support Staff
Support staff members are also important members of the educational team. Building relationships with these individuals is important because more than likely I will need a favor from them at some point. I will do my best to have face-to-face interactions with the support staff; however in some cases email may be used. Some examples of reasons why I may contact them are: asking the librarian to look up books on a certain topic, asking the computer teacher to help with technology projects, asking the cafeteria staff to help a student who has forgotten a lunch and has no money, and/or warning the janitor about messy projects or asking for extra supplies. This staff also includes student counselors. Any time I have concern for a child, I will contact the school counselor. I acknowledge that I am not equipped to handle certain situations like they are. If a student does need to regularly visit the counselor I will schedule time for that and the counselor and I will have meetings to talk about what I can do for the student in the classroom.