Building Teacher - Parent Relationships

With August approaching quicker than most teachers would like, it’s time to start thinking about that back to school to-do list.  And although your list is probably a mile long, I’m urging you to double check if you’ve added ways to build teacher-parent relationships.  Building a positive teacher-parent relationship from the get go is HUGE and IMPORTANT!  It can make a real difference not only for the student, but for the teacher too.  Here are a few things that I’ve done in the past to help build these relationships from the very start of the school year. 

Early Conferences:  Key word here is EARLY!  I know that the start of the school year can be crazy, but taking time to set up individual teacher-parent conferences can go a LONG way in building that connection fast.  It’s a great opportunity to learn about your new students, discuss expectations and WELCOME parents as partners in their child’s education.  This could even be done in the few days leading up to the start of  the school year so that the first weeks aren’t as overwhelming.

Student Inventory:  Want to learn more about your students?  Send home a student inventory asking parents to fill out information about their child.  Ask about their child’s strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes and have them share their goals with you about what they hope their child achieves this year. 

In this Freebie is an example of an inventory I've used to help me get to better know my students.  Grab it HERE for FREE!

Parent Meet & Greet:  Host a parent meet and greet.  Set up an evening and invite parents to come and here all about you and your class.  Take this time to introduce yourself, share your classroom expectations, answer questions and again WELCOME families.  This is also a great opportunity for parents to build relationships with other parents in the class. 

Class Information: Parents like to know what’s going on and should be informed.  Prepare a packet that LISTS ALL important information about your class and be ready to share it on the very first day of school.  Think about including your daily schedule, homework policy, behavior policy, birthday information, contact information and anything else relevant that parents should know about your class.  I always like to have parents sign and return a sheet saying that they’ve received and read the information just to be sure it was given to all. 

Have you seen this class information flip book by Chalk and Apples?  I LOVE IT!  Not only does it do the job, but it's small!  She also suggests adding a magnet to the back so parents can put it on their fridge which I think is brilliant!  Go HERE to check it out.

Be Proactive: If you start to notice student behavior or academic problems be sure to communicate these concerns with parents early.  It’s better to inform them and have them go away, then not and watch them become BIG problems later on.

Daily Interactions:  Think about how you interact with parents on a daily basis.  Are you friendly when you see them at drop off and pick up?  If they drop by your class  to chat how do you respond?  Do you smile at them?  Your daily interactions with parents make a big impact so try to remember that kindness goes a long way.

Pinterest Pin Here

Communicate Often and in Various Forms: Send notes, make phone calls, write a weekly newsletter, update your website etc.  Use these various forms to communicate student accomplishments and progress, class happenings and things you are excited about.

So what do you think?  I know there are so many ideas and tips out there for how to build teacher-parent relationships and I'd love to hear what you do!   All I know is that  just like I reflect and plan my teaching, I need to take time to reflect and plan how to build teacher-parent relationships each year.  And, I think big part of that is to remember to NOT give up! 

Happy Friday all! Now I'm off to go walking to encourage this baby to stay head down.  Ha-Ha

XOXOXO

Behavior Management Thoughts

How do you display your behavior management resources?

 When I was looking at classroom set ups I was reminded how when I taught kindergarten I wanted ONE place of reference for my students to look to for expectations/behaviors. (Maybe I'm a little late haha ) But prior to this discovery, like many of you, I'd displayed various behavior charts and posters about the room but I decided what I really wanted was one wall "so to speak"  where all the information could be found.  So I came up with "Check Point"  a bulletin board where I can display my class rules, behavior chart, voice level expectation, social goal, daily schedule etc.  This board is a great tool because all I have to mention is "Check Point" and it allows students to look directly to this board.  Here's a look at some examples for how it could be used.

Example 1: During Daily 5 you are working with a small group when you notice the class volume level is getting a little loud. You simply ring a bell and announce “Check Point, Voice Levels” Students look to the wall, find the voice level number, and show it on their fingers.

Example 2: During centers little Tommy and little Nikki are beginning to argue over the blocks.  The teacher walks over and quietly says to them “Check Point, Social Goal” at this time the two students would walk over to the check point wall and check the “social goal” chart which says sharing. Thus providing them with a gentle reminder of what is expected. (The social goal would have previously been taught about using s t-chart with what it looks like and sounds like – I’d add this to my “Check Point” wall)

Example 3: During morning meeting a number of students are acting up: calling out, getting up, not following directions etc.  You simply say to the entire class “Check Point, Rules” and at that time all students turn to the “Check Point” wall to go over class rules.

I finally created a set of resources that I can use for my own "Check Point" wall and I couldn't be happier out how they turned out.  I really think this will be a great way to increase positive behaviors and I can't wait to put in my own classroom one day!  

All of the resources above are available for purchase in my TPT STORE here.  You can buy them for a deal as a bundle or each separately. :)

Blast from the Past: Classroom Set Up

HI All!  So glad you have made your way over to check out my blog.  I have to tell you I think I am starting this blog at the PERFECT time!  Why you may ask?  Well, because most of you have either just started, or will be starting shortly, the 2014 -2015 school year.  Eeeeek!  How exciting, stressful, fun, worrisome, blissful, tiresome - fill in your adjective!  But either way a new school year brings an array of emotions and one of my absolute favorite things is to blog stalk pictures of your newly cleaned, prepped, and prepared classrooms.  

I LOVE setting up a classroom for the first day of school and although I am missing out on it this year I thought I'd share a few pics of my classrooms from previous years.  Be warned I was a new teacher and very overwhelmed by the start of the school year so 1. The pictures aren't all that great (I was using an i-phone 4 camera  2. I didn't really take a lot of pictures of my rooms as I guess I just forgot (I totally regret this) and 3.  If setting up this year, it'd be completely different and I WOULD actually remember to take pictures.  But I know I love seeing other bloggers post pics of their classrooms so thought I'd share what I do have.  What does your classroom look like this year?
*Be Warned it's not your eyes the picture are a little blurry.

First Grade 2011-2012:  This was my second year teaching.  I tried an Ocean Theme!

Kindergarten 2012-2013: I actually really like how this room turned out.  It was suppose to be "homey."  Sadly I don't have pictures of what it was like when it was All the way done.  On the back wall I hung real empty wooden frames that I used throughout the year to hang student work in. 

This is before (EMPTY/NOTHING) and then the work in progress.