What is Wednesday’s question? Read on!
| How and when will you first communicate with the parents and guardians of your new students? |
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Cheerfully,
Diane
I already have, in a welcome to my classroom email/newsletter!
The office mails out our “Welcome Back” letters to the parents in an envelope that contains all kinds of information for the upcoming year. Because it seems less personal, I also like to send my own postcard to each student welcoming them to my classroom. Hopefully it gets them excited to start the school year!
I have already met many of the students and parents for this year through a series of fun nights. We have one more before school starts.
Our school has an Open House the week before school starts. I teach Early Childhood Special Ed and some students are returning for another year and some are new.
I sent a postcard to the students who were registered as of last week, and when the parents come to orientation two days before school starts, I give them some communication forms and my Kindergarten handbook that tells a lot of things about how I do things and how our classroom works. Parents seem to appreciate it!
I will send home an intro. letter the first week.
I have already written letters to parents and am waiting for my list to send them out.
My school does not inform students which class they are in until the first day of school, I actually don’t have a class list until just before that. My first contact with parents is at arrival the first day of school. I send a note about me and the classroom along with a newsletter that day, this year it is a Friday.
My letters were sent last week. I’ve already received an email from a concerned parent whose child has special needs!
I actually meet some of my parents at a year end picnic the previous school year, Once I get my list I send a intro letter home to parents and to the kids, we have an open house the week before school starts, Thursday night is parent night no kids, and fri morning is for the kids to come and check it out and meet us. It works really well for us. We have the kids find all kinds of things in the classroom.
The school I work for sends home letters while I call them a few days before school starts.
I send a letter to parents telling about myself and the expectations of first grade. I also send a postcard to each child, introducing myself and telling them what fun we will have in first grade.
I teach in a very small school so I already know the families I serve (and have had older siblings of most). I send home a letter the first day of school explaining policies and procedures to keep for reference through the year.
Because we live in a small rural community, I have had the wonderful opportunity to have many different siblings from families. This makes it very nice because I usually know many of the families before the initial contact. My first day back at school is when I call parents to set up my home visits.
I send out postcards at the end of the summer welcoming the students and their families to our class. I give them my email address and encourage them to send messages, ask questions, etc.
For new students to kindergarten I generally have the opportunity to meet them in May of the previous year at our Welcome to School night.
I meet my student’s parents at ‘Meet the Teacher Night” which is a week before school starts. It is a great opportunity for student’s and their parents to meet me and see the classroom.
i hope to communicate withmost parents the day before school starts at our open house. I will place business card sized magnets with all my contact information on each student’s desks. I will also have a magnet for them to take home with ten ways to incorporate reading into a busy family’s schedule. The first day, I send home a packet of information with classrroom procedures, expectations, and a short note about me. Attached to that will be a mystery reader, star volunteer form, and get to know your child sheet. I want to welcome families into my classroom as quickly as possible. We are in this together after all! The border on my small magnet sums it up best, “Hand in hand, together we can!”
I like to try and send welcome letters to all of my new families. It lets them know I am thinking about them before they even come to school and that I am preparing an awesome year ahead for them!
I have already met most of my parents in person and have made some phone calls. I will be sending my students a postcard this week. We have a back to school bbq two weeks before school, and a meet and greet three days before school starts.
We have a pancake breakfast the 1st day of school. I get to meet many of the parents when they bring their children to school and have breakfast with them. We also take 1st day photos that we use throughout the school year.
I send out a welcome postcard to the students reminding them to bring their parents to the breakfast the last week before school.
I will send an introduction letter home with the students on the first day. I am also looking forward to making home visits to get to know the families better.
I always set a meeting a few weeks before school starts to meet the parents and kids and find out all the details to care for their special needs.
I mail a postcard to the children a week before they start school. I give out literature to the parents at the schools Meet The Teacher which is typically held the week before school starts. If parents and children don’t come to Meet The Teacher I make a phone call and/or send an email to introduce myself!
We call the parents before school starts – to see if they have any questions and it also gives us a heads up if they have changed their minds about our school and are sending elsewhere!
During my elementary teaching years and my child care center days I would do a variety of the following, not necessarily in the order listed below:
1.Sometimes my first communication with the parent or guardian would come in the form of a call to all my new parents prior to school opening and welcome them and their child to my classroom. I would introduce myself to the parent and then I would speak to the child and introduce myself to him or her and tell them how happy I am to have them in my class this year and I look forward to seeing them on the first day.
2. Plan to spend some time with each child and his or her family before the child is left in the care of the staff for the first time.
3. Invite parents and other family members to visit your program with their child. When parents get to know you prior to the first day of school, they feel more at ease when they leave their child(ren) with you on the first days of school and The children will feel more at ease when they see you spending time with their families. During this meeting you can also discuss hellos and good-bye strategies which can make for a smooth transition for child and parent, Sometimes the transition from home to shcool is harder for the parent than the child..
4. If the parents and their child visit you prior to the first day of school take photos of the children and their families and then hang a welcome sign up at the beginning of the year with names and photos of children and members of their families.
It’s a good idea to keep the welcome sign up for a month or two. In addition to communicating the message of welcome, photos will help families get to know one another’s names and the names of each other’s children. You can also make a list of names for families to take home. This will prove especially helpful when children enter your program during the year.
5.Give parents and other family members-who will regularly drop children off in the morning and pick them up later, a sense of what they might expect the first days of school.
I first meet most of my Parents at the tour. From there the school has a fun fair in July which is another time to meet both adult and child. In August we have a orientation whcih I attend and Parents can talk and visit. We also offer a meet the Teacher day where each Child gets a 15 time slot and Parents can ask me questions. I also attend a school meeting once a month through the year so Parents can see me there as well as I accept phone calls.
We send letters/postcards to the new students in our class before the year begins to welcome them and introduce ourselves. Within the first week, we call every family with positive news to establish a good partnership.
First contact I make is a note home the first day of school stating my routines in the classroom and all that jazz. I also ask the parents to communicate back to me that day and tell me everything they think I need to know about their child.
No matter when I communicate with parents, I begin and end with positive news.
The first thing I do when I get my class list is call the parents and introduce myself. I let the parents know how excited I am to have their child in my class and give them the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. The school schedules an orientation so that the parents and students can come and meet the teachers in person. During the orientation I make it a point to meet each parent and invite them into the room to volunteer or to read to the students.
Head Start requires us to do a home visit prior to the child’s first day in the classroom. At this first home visit, they complete remaining paperwork while the teachers play games with the child. The games are actually a screener, but it allows us to make observations of the student in a familiar environment and we start learning about the family. Most of the time this is a positive meeting with the parents and the child meets the teacher for the first time on familiar ground.
We meet the parents at an informal open house the day before school starts, and then again at an evening open house the second night of school. I usually get to see all of my parents between those two events. I hand out a classroom procedures/what to expect this year letter.
Every day communication is the key. Of course the small interactions are the best but I have found electronic communication to be easy for me and allows parents the time to read it when they have time to really process. You can never start too early!
As a first year teacher, I sent out an introduction letter about 3 weeks before school started. I’m new to the area as well, so I’m a very fresh face! I also invited all parents to the Back-to-School Open House one week before school starts so that I can meet them in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.
I send out a postcard to my families before school starts. This introduces me to the family as their child’s teacher and invites them to come to Open House at school. Then on the first day of school I send home letter to parents explaining the ins and outs of my classroom, and some of the exciting things to look forward to throughout the year.
I send out a newsletter the very first day. It explains procedures, expectations and a little about myself.
We have a Meet the Teacher night before the first day of school for students. On the first day of school, I send a newsletter home to all parents.
I will communicate with my parents on the day before the first day of class. We have a meet the teacher day and they have the opportunity to meet me and my staff. I also send home bi-weekly newsletters to keep parents informed of upcoming events and what their children are learning. Monthly parent meetings are also a way to keep parents informed.
I send out a post card welcoming the family to school. I teach kindergarten so for many this is the first time at school.
Our school also has a meet the teacher day before the start of school.
I sent a letter to each of my students to be mailed with their back to school packet from the school.
We have a kindergarten orientation a week before school starts. I cannot contact parents before that. At the orientation I quickly get everyone’s emails and start sending my newsletters out! Saves paper and sometimes when you need something, you have it by the end of the day.
I send out a letter from the teacher the very first day. Intoducing myself and our class.
We have an open house a few days before school starts
I write a letter introducing myself and telling them about our classroom, and my expectations for them and their child.
In the spring we mailed a letter to each parent in the grade below telling them about our grade and what they can expect next year. We meet them the night before school starts. I send a postcard to each child in August to welcome them back to school.
We make phone calls to the parents.We let them know what to expect during the school day. We answer any questions and ask to speak with the child to have a little chat before we get to meet them at open house for the first time. Most kids love the chance to do this. They can talk up a storm.
I am a special education teacher so I often do not know my list until I start school. I will send out a letter with the students introducing myself, telling the parents what will go on in the classes during the school year, how to get in contact with me, and ask them to send information telling me the best way to get in contact with them. About a week after school begins, I call about five parents a week to tell them at least one good thing that their son or daughter has accomplished and discuss things that they still need to work on and how they can help them at home. This good contact gives me that good communication edge in case of the “bad day” that arises and I need to make the call that isn’t so good. Those are the calls that all teachers dread but, if you have already have that positive foundation then it isn’t such a horrible call to make. The parents will already have your back and be willing to do what it takes to get their son or daughter back on the right track. I believe in strong communication between parents and teachers. Without this, the students don’t seem to flourish as well. The more you communicate with the parents the less problems that seem to arise in the classroom. I keep in contact with them all year long.
We are going to have a meet and greet at the beginning of the school year but my favorite “first contact” is our get to know you conferences” Parents come in and tell us all about their child. They also write us a letter. This information is so valuable and the parents appreciate it as well.
I mail postcards to my students before Meet the Teacher to invite them to the event. I also take the time to personally email or handwrite each parent a thank you note when they return the “tell me about your student” page that I send home on the first day. This tells parents that 1) I read their responses and 2)I appreciate their time and effort in completing them.
These two contacts help establish a positive relationship with families.
We have a meet the teacher night and one week before, a welcome letter gets mailed to them. I guess this is really the first contact I have with them. After that, I send home some information that first day and at the end of the first week.
We have a Meet the Teacher night two days before school begins. The first day of school, I send a letter home with the students. I follow up the first two weeks of school with a telephone call.
Last year we had “Meet the Teacher” a few days before school started. There was no mention of it this year. I guess my first contact will be when the students and parents show up for the first day of school. It’s always much more helpful to meet parents & students ahead of time.
First contact is on our school visitation day, though our school is small so I have usually met the parents in previous years. In the first week, I send home a positive note or jot a short comment in the assignment book. I try to do this with a few kids a week throughout the school year so that negative feedback are not the only comments coming home.
I call home to parents the day before school starts to welcome them and their child to school. Then I send home a letter on the first day of school.
I send out an invitation in early September to my preschoolers and their parents for our orientation the week preschool starts (we don’t start until mid-September). It’s basically just an information evening for the parents of things I really need them to know right off the bat, and it gives my new students a chance to meet me and see the classroom before their first day. I’ll include a picture of me and my dog so they know what I look like, too!
Welcome post cards, letter home first day and parents night a few weeks in.
We get our list of students befor they leave for summer vacation. So, over the summer I mail them a letter telling them how excited I am to be their teacher. 🙂
Our last workday is Friday, August 19th. During that day, students and parents are encouraged to come by and meet the teacher and look around the classroom. Otherwise, I will be meeting my class as school begins on the 22nd. As of yet we have no class rosters or folders.
I send a newsletter home the first day of school. Open house is the second week of school.
I send a letter to my students before the beginning of the school year. On visiting day I meet them and their parents.
Each year about 2 weeks before school I send a welcome letter to students and parents. We also have “Back to School Night” for families to come meet the teacher and visit the classroom. I can also get important information out to parents that they need to know for the beginning of school.
About a week or two weeks before school starts we do home visits to meet the parents and children and we also have an open house the monday before school.
As soon as I get my class list, I send the parents and their child a “Welcome Letter” with a little bit of information about me. Then, at our Open House, a week before school starts, I give the visiting parents a letter with classroom information in it to accommodate a better transition for the students.
On Friday, we will have a Meet and Greet for the parents. The teachers will be in thier rooms and the parents will come see theroom and meet us.
A letter goes home before school starts and we have an open house one night before school starts and I have a letter on the students desk it explains some of the activities that we do in First Grade. When school starts a Friday letter goes home telling what we learned that week and any special activities that are coming up.
We have a Back to School Night to welcome our students and parents.
We had open house the day before school started. The students and parents come to meet the teachers and see the building.
We will not receive our class list until August 29th. On September 1st, parents are invited to our Kindergarten Orientation and the Supply Drop-Off Day.
We send home several different papers to be filled out. I also send home a Parent Communication folder.
We have a special parent meeting before open house for the parents of fourth grade. However, I live in such a small town I already know many of the students coming to fourth grade.
I meet many of my parents when they are picking up or dropping off.
We have an Open House on Sept. 1. I set up a scavenger hunt for the students to find special things around the room. (their desk, drinking fountain, cubby, pencil sharpener, etc.) Students will get a letter fom me before the Open House!!
A phone call to tell the parents and students about our first Open House and how I am happy to have the student in my class.
I send students a postcard over the summer to let them know I’m so looking forward to them being in my class. I also hold an open house the weekend before school starts.
I meet the parents at our school wide open house. I then give each parent a phone call to check in during the first month.
We have an Orientation meeting the Sunday before Labor Day. The parents and children get to come to the classroom to meet each other and familiarize themselves with my class. At this time I introduce myself and explain what we will be learning throughout the year. I also pass out an information packet explaining class rules, discipline, field trips, parent participation, etc. Some times, if I get my class list early enough, I send out a postcard to welcome them to my class and remind them of the Orientation day.
Other than some “Welcome Back” type notes that go home, Back-to-School night is the first “official” contact I have with the parents. However, since it is usually held the third week of school, I’ve often made contact with several of the parents before then!
I usually send an email out the evening after the first day. Just to let everyone know how excited I am and what we have planned.
We usually do it at open house, but this year we are going to do it a bit different. There will be an open house and then a week or so later a back to school night. So, I am thinking most will be done at the back to school night. I will probably have a letter before that, just because I can’t wait to start the communication.
My kindergarten class has an information evening for all parents the week before school opens (this year, its tomorrow evening!)
This provides the parents an opportunity to voice any concerns or questions before school starts the following Monday and the teachers can meet the parents.
I like to meet them in person. However, if that is not possible I like to make a phone call before their child comes for their first day.
I sent out letters a week before school starts. I the letter I indicate how important it is to me to have the “doors of communication open” I also let the parent(s) know that they can reach me at any time of the day with any concerns and ideals that will help their feel comfortable.
Elizabeth Garcia
I sent out letters a week before school starts. In the letter I indicate how important it is to me to have the “doors of communication open” I also let the parent(s) know that they can reach me at any time of the day with any concerns and ideals that will help their feel comfortable.
Elizabeth Garcia
I sent a postcard inviting my students and their parents to our open house.
Send postcards to the students, meet the parents the first day of school and give them a parent newsletter the first day.
Since I work with HEad Start, I get to meet all the parents as I help my supervisor give out enrollment packets and then do testing with the kids. We then have an Open House where I give out information packets and complete my first home visit. They get to see the room and meet my two assistants.
Jennifer B.
Today was actually the first time I contacted my parents by phone to set up appointments for assessments before school. I will meet the students and parents on Thursday and Friday for the first time.