What is it? Why is it important? Not only is it important for teachers to communicate with their students, but it is also critical for teachers to communicate with their students' families. Often, families are very busy and have many obligations, but teachers must give families the opportunity to be involved in their child's life in the classroom. They need to share with the families what their classroom will be like, what their goals are for the child, and how their child is progressing. Because families are a huge part of the students' lives, teachers should want to have them on board and fully aware of what goes on in the classroom. What are the key elements involved? Information about the instructional program: Teachers must consistently inform parents as to the content that their students are learning as well as the methods for learning that will be used in the classroom. Information about individual students: Families should never be unaware of how their student is doing in the classroom. To make this a reality, teachers must regularly update families on the progress of their child. Engagement of families in the instructional program: To get families involved in their children's lives at school, teachers must provide opportunities for them to be there or to participate in some form. This will help build relationships between teachers and students as well as between students and their families. How will I implement this component into my classroom?
I will use technology, such as Twitter, and encourage parents to follow so that they can see what takes place in the classroom
I will send home letters at the beginning of each year to share with families my goals for the classroom
I will make myself available for meetings with families
I will attend extracurricular activities that students are involved in and work to get to know their families