These free printables are a wonderful reference to parents asking how to help their child at home. Perfect for back to school or parent teacher conferences.
Family and Community Engagement is essential. It is important to involve the entire school in creating an environment that supports parents. We
The trick to getting more parents engaged and involved in your schol + PTO is deceptively simple. Try this easy method to boost your school volunteer base!
Are you looking for ways to have classroom parent volunteers? Here is a list of 50 ideas to use parent volunteers int the classroom. #parentvolunteers #classroommanagement
Parent involvement matters. In this post, the benefits of having parent support are shared. Parent handouts for teachers are included.
One of the first rules of parent communication is documentation. Ideas and a free printable to make documenting and organizing parent communication easy!
We all know how important it is to be involved in our child’s education. Parental involvement includes helping kids with their homework, participating in activities with kids, volunteering at school…
Are you looking for ways to have classroom parent volunteers? Here is a list of 50 ideas to use parent volunteers int the classroom. #parentvolunteers #classroommanagement
If you are reading this, you are probably either a school PTO leader, principal or room mom trying to figure out how to get more parents involved! Know this, you are not alone! Schools across the country struggle to get the participation that they want and need everyday! I've been there too. Here's the scenario... My son attended a middle school with approximately 700 kids that was in need of a PTO leader. Sure, why not! I love education, kids and planning so how bad could it be? Right?!?! Wrong! I almost immediately realized that getting people to actually come help with anything was difficult. Honestly, it felt impossible. I had a mini pity party and decided that wasn't going to cut it! These are good people that love their kids. I knew that! Now, I just needed to come up with how to get them involved! That leads me to the topic of this post! How to Increase Parent Engagement at Your School First and foremost, remember that you were willing to step up. Whether that was out of guilt, because there was no one else or you are part of an amazing school that has an active PTO, someone cares about the PTA group! The reality is, while it may not seem like it, everyone wants it to work. They just aren't jumping up and down saying
Looking for easy ways to increase parent-teacher communication and keep parents informed about behavior and academics? This page will direct you to resources for updating all of your parents or just the ones whose children need extra accountability. Document parent communication It’s very helpful to document and keep track of interactions you have with students’ … Continued
Are you looking for ways to have classroom parent volunteers? Here is a list of 50 ideas to use parent volunteers int the classroom. #parentvolunteers #classroommanagement
If you are reading this, you are probably either a school PTO leader, principal or room mom trying to figure out how to get more parents involved! Know this, you are not alone! Schools across the country struggle to get the participation that they want and need everyday! I've been there too. Here's the scenario... My son attended a middle school with approximately 700 kids that was in need of a PTO leader. Sure, why not! I love education, kids and planning so how bad could it be? Right?!?! Wrong! I almost immediately realized that getting people to actually come help with anything was difficult. Honestly, it felt impossible. I had a mini pity party and decided that wasn't going to cut it! These are good people that love their kids. I knew that! Now, I just needed to come up with how to get them involved! That leads me to the topic of this post! How to Increase Parent Engagement at Your School First and foremost, remember that you were willing to step up. Whether that was out of guilt, because there was no one else or you are part of an amazing school that has an active PTO, someone cares about the PTA group! The reality is, while it may not seem like it, everyone wants it to work. They just aren't jumping up and down saying
Explore fresh ideas for parent involvement and power up your new school year. Uncover new strategies to engage and collaborate with parents in the classroom journey.
I'm the kind of person that likes to get ready for the next year before the end of this year. I know. You can call me crazy. It's ok. I understand. But it's the way I am. So what am I getting ready? Forms to send home during Meet and Greet: My Parent Survey (it's free!). I keep this in my communication folder. This is what I send home so that I can take pictures for my blog. I know it has my information on it, but if you need it for something else, then maybe you can use it as a template. Click HERE to download it. And I send this home so that I can show some movies that are apparently PG. Click HERE to download it. Click the picture below to get all these forms in my {TPT store} I'm also restocking my calendar bins for next year! Head over to {THIS} post to see how I organize all of my monthly calendar-type activities. I already have my calendar pieces done...but I'm getting ready all the pages that I want to use IN the calendar bundle. Check out my post on the calendar bundle HERE. Our monthly poetry covers are printed up for the year. Find out how I use poetry in the classroom and download the covers for free {HERE} I also have our monthly writing journal covers ready to go... the journals themselves aren't done yet, but hopefully I'll have a wonderful parent volunteer next year to do them for me. See how I use the journals and download the covers for free {HERE}. I've also sent my Spelling Journals to the Print Shop. I'm opting to use these this year instead of doing my phonics notebook, only because it's my first year in First grade AND at my new school, so I want to see what they can handle before I dive in full force! haha. But I used my Phonics Notebook this year and LOVED it...You can check that out HERE. I've also sent my Vocabulary Journals to our print shop (I like send things to the print shop because they copy off a whole class set, with a cover and back cover AND bind them with a spiral thingy.... to me, NOT having to do it is worth me paying for it! lol) Check out my vocabulary Journals HERE. I also have copied off all the writing pages and family notes for our Monthly Family Projects! IF I have enough time, I might even get frisky and run off all the templates for the crafts! I'm also getting ready our Memory Books for next year... as we're finishing up this year's Memory books! lol You can read more about them {HERE} There are "All About Me" pages for the beginning of the year and the end of the year, so you can see the difference between the 2 times of year. It's always so fun to see the changes! Then, there are monthly writing pages, so the students can write about what they learned that month. The kids have really been having fun with this. Check them out in my TpT store {HERE}. You can grab a FREEBIE from these memory books {HERE} I have also printed out and laminated my personal behavior charts that I use from Rachelle. You can read my post on how I use them {HERE}, although, I must say, I am thinking of changing the plan...again! haha! I've also printed up my name tags for next year - I love that I don't have to go on a hunt to buy them every year! They have everything I want on them! You can download them for free on {THIS} post. I've had my wonderful parent volunteer trace and cut out my jerseys for me. In the beginning of the year, the kids decorate their jersey with their number on it and I leave them up all year. Why do they have numbers? FOR SO MANY THINGS! I have a post on what I use numbers for {HERE}. And last but not least, I got all planned out for next year! I came across Traci's curriculum planner, and I knew it would be perfect for me since I don't use the district adopted series. I have my whole year planned out! This is such a beautiful sight. I wish I had this for this year as a first year 1st grade teacher. but now I won't be so "lost" next year - haha! Check it out on Traci's blog {HERE}! WHEW!! That's a lot! And I still have more on my list to do for next year! And, um, this year isn't even over yet - haha! Oh well. I will be thankful next year in the beginning of the year.
Every teacher must keep a few important things in mind when communicating with parents. Do you know what they are?
Discover essential tips to strengthen parent-teacher relationships in preschool. Foster trust, communication, and collaboration for a thriving community.
Community involvement is a HUGE focus in our school district, as I am sure it is in many of your districts. If you are searching for some great ideas....I have got one for you! Last week, the elementary school where I work hosted Pastries for Parents. As the interventionist, I was the lucky one (thankfully I had some amazing helpers) who planned the event. That may sound like a complaint---but seriously---I love planning events, but there is no way I could have pulled it off without my volunteers. Anyway....the turnout was AMAZING! We had so many parents show up that parents were circling the school to find parking spaces. It. Was. Awesome! Want to know the format? Well.....our school opened its doors at 7:15am. Parents, students, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents filtered through the donuts, juice and coffee line and then headed to classrooms where they read or played games with their child. Teachers were asked to leave their classrooms unlocked and to set out books and games students and their families could use. Many teachers set these things out the night before and instructed the students on what they could do with their parents. All in all this event was little prep for teachers, yet they did (and they were so gracious and willing) to give up their Friday morning so parents and students could be in their room. If opening up teachers classrooms are not an option for your school---you could have books and games set up in the gym, library or cafeteria. Students and their families were able to stay(if they wanted) in their classroom from 7:15 to 8:15, and then at 8:15 our principal got on the intercom and notified parents that the event was over. All students then reported to the gym for morning announcements, and our regular school day began. Want to know what you need to pull off the event? First, you need to secure volunteers. I needed help with passing out donuts, filling juice cups and serving coffee. I believe I had about 6 people helping me serve. Second, you need to notify teachers. Third, you need to pre-order all of your supplies. We ordered our 30 dozen donuts, plates, napkins, frozen juice and coffee a couple weeks in advance. We wanted to give the bakery plenty of notice--as 30 dozen donuts PROBABLY requires extra help. Fourth, you want to set up your donut and drink station up the night in advance. My janitor did this for me---love her! I also mixed the frozen juice in large jugs and set the jugs in the refrigerator. Making the juice in advance saved me some time in the morning...... Fifth, you will have an early morning pick up of donuts. I picked mine up at 6:30am.... yikes...right? I wanted to give myself plenty of time to set them up, and get the juice out before parents and students arrived. Check out my early morning tweet.... Sixth...ENJOY THE EVENT!
A reproducible color flyer that can be handed out to parents and community members at open houses, back-to-school nights, and other times. Black-and-white and Spanish versions also available.
As teachers, one of our greatest resources can be the parents of the students we work with. It takes time and effort to foster strong relationships with parents, but it is often more than worth it in the end. I've worked with parents that are ready to jump right in and become a partner right away and others that needed more coaxing. There are several things you can do to create a welcoming environment that produces parent allies or even parent partners. This list is going to contain things I have done in my classroom, things my friends have shared with me, and things that I have thought about implementing when I get back into the classroom after my parental leave is over. Do not feel the pressure to do all of these things at the same time. You know your classroom and the parents you're working with best. You want to include them without overwhelming them. Do what feels right to you! Reach Out Right Away The easiest was to open a positive dialogue is to send a letter home before school even starts. Include something in the envelope for the student and something for the parents to introduce yourself. Give them your contact information and when you're available to take phone calls. Something I have not done, but I will consider doing in the future is including a photograph of myself and any other adult working in the classroom. My daughter's teachers did this and it lessened a lot of her anxiety as she prepared for the new school year. Teach Them About the Programs Often times, our parents have been out of the classroom as a student for years and have never been in the classroom as a teacher. Some of the programming may be confusing or overwhelming. I like to share which reading and math programs we will be using, along with any websites that may be helpful for them to use at home. Another thing I like to share with the parents I am working with is some information about the special education program their child is in. I created a Parent's Guide to Co-teaching that has been very helpful and well-received. If you're co-teaching, I encourage you to check it out! Accept Help When it is Offered How many times has a parent offered to help you and you politely declined? I know that sometimes it feels like it can be more work to find something for them to do, but often times the parents are literally willing to do anything to help! At the beginning of the year, create a list of things that you would be willing to hand off to a helpful parent, should they ask. Some of the help I have accepted (and offered as a parent) are running centers during rotations, organizing the classroom library, making copies, making play-dough, cutting out lamination pieces, and creating bulletin boards. Regular Communication Regular and expected communication is so important. Whether you send home a communication log, behavior charts, or newsletters, it is important to be consistent. When you have consistent positive communication, it will be easier to approach a parent about any issues that may arise. For some of my less verbal students, that means a daily communication log. I found that a lot of parents felt that the book was mine and they didn't feel comfortable writing in it so I created a printable version that I love! Not only does it encourage the parents to write in it every day, I can easily check off information and add in details as needed. Having a layout to write in saves me a lot of time when I have multiple logs to fill out at the end of the day. Newsletters are also great for communication! I know that as a parent, I love knowing what is going on in the classroom. I like to include a lot of photographs in my newsletters so that it makes the families I work with feel like they are a part of the classroom. Encourage Questions Welcome questions! Most of the time, when a parents is questioning something that you're doing in the classroom, they are honestly wondering the reasoning or research behind it. They want to know more so they can understand what is working and not working for their child. Take the time to answer their questions and alleviate their concerns. Make yourself approachable! Put Your Listening Ears On Do you know what goals the parents in your classroom have for their children? Are you aware of their short term and long term concerns? You may be the expert in education, but they are the expert in their child. They are a valuable resource and you will learn so much if you just listen. Before special education meetings, I like to ask for parental input. You can either call or ask on paper. I like to send home an IEP Parent Input sheet a few weeks before a meeting which gives the families enough time to really think about any questions, concerns, or goals they have. Do Not Judge or Take Offense Every family situation is different. Do not be judgmental if something is going on at home that you do not agree with, such as a child being allowed to stay up until midnight on a school night. You do not know the reasoning behind that decision or the parent may not know that is difficult for their child to focus after those late nights. Present your concern. Listen to the parent. Offer suggestions if opportunity arrises. Just like you, they are more likely to share their difficulties when they are confident they will not be judged. Do not take things personally. You are working with humans and sometimes it can become stressful for everybody involved. Sometimes harsh words are thrown in your direction. Do not take critiques or negative words personally. Take a deep breath and move on. Don't forget, that you are the professional. Of course, sometimes the negative comments can get out of hand. In this case, ask another teacher or an administrator to sit in on any contact you have with that parent to protect yourself. You can read more about how I handle difficult meetings in this blog post. Share Data Teachers are not the only ones that like data! When you do an assessment, send it home. If you are progress monitoring, keep the parents informed on how things are going. I have checklists upon checklists that are helpful in these situations. The parents you work with will thank you for the constant educational updates! I am always looking for more ways to involve parents in my classroom! I would love to hear what else you do to encourage parent involvement!
Learn more about creating a classroom handbook flipbook that houses all of your back to school info in one handout, and parents will actually keep it.
Intentionally fostering interactions among teachers, parents, and community partners helped one school create a more inviting event.
Looking for ways to increase parental involvement in your classroom? Then check out this infographic that lists 20 ways you can get parents more involved.
Family and Community Engagement is essential. It is important to involve the entire school in creating an environment that supports parents. We
By Jennifer Larson - The key to improving parent engagement is a consistent and simplified flow of communication between school, home and all other stakeholders.
To encourage families to attend school or organization events and boost attendance, it’s essential to offer incentives that make participation more appealing and worthwhile. Here are some effective incentives that can be offered: 1) Educational Workshops: Provide informative workshops on … Read More
Just a quick note before I link up with Cara, but don't Happy 4th of July! Make sure you run over to my Facebook page and get TONS of freebi...
Editable preschool parent handouts. These editable back to school handouts is designed to help your preschool parents support their child.
Do you want to develop lasting relationships with your parents and families? Use this ultimate list of parent workshop topics and start engaging today.
These at home reading tips will help keep children reading at home and loving it too! Reading strategies and tips for parents and teachers of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students.
Editable preschool parent handouts. These editable back to school handouts is designed to help your preschool parents support their child.
Our students spend 8 hours a day in our classrooms, and even though I’m not a parent, I can’t imagine not knowing what’s going on. So from Weebly, to Twitter, to newsletters, to Y…
Lately I've been thinking a lot about how to get parents more involved in the learning that happens at school. In my board, more and more over the years we have been discouraged from sending home work that is to be assessed. There has also been a major reduction in homework in general - homework is not something to be assigned for the sake of giving homework - if work is sent home, it is usually something the student didn't complete during class time. Now, don't get me wrong - as a parent of three, it's lovely having that home time free of homework most nights. My kids are quite busy with their extra curricular activities, and we do read nightly at home (along with other learning rich activities). But, as a teacher, I have noticed an increasing disconnection with parents involved in their students' learning. Yes, they support the school, and are kept aware of activities and the learning we are doing through newsletters, phone calls, or apps like Remind 101, but they just don't have the same opportunities to get involved in the learning - to actually SEE the learning their students are doing until after the fact when the completed and assessed work is sent home. I asked my followers on my Facebook Page how they keep parents involved in the learning, and they (as always) had some great suggestions to share. Send parents links to websites or apps to support students' learning (update regularly to match classroom work). You can even make your own videos to send home (showme app) (Katie) Have a "Secret Reader". Parents sign up for a time once a month or so to come in and read to the class, and then do a craft. It's so neat to have the kids figure out who the reader is using clues from the parent, and it's also pretty amazing to see which book/craft the parent picks. (Christina) Have a classroom blog or website where the students chat about what they are learning and invite the parents to ask questions and make comments. Some of the more reluctant students really blossom when their blog post gets comments. (Carol-Anne) After class assemblies (twice a year), parents are invited into the class afterwards to take part in topic-related activities with their child for the morning. (Holly) Use a twitter account that the students post to about their learning for the day (with parent permission first). (Karen) Monthly parent meetings on different school topics. (Amy) Show parents a minilesson during conferences or on parent night. (Kathleen) Have students create youtube videos to share with parents. (Meredith) Challenge students and parents to "beat the teacher score" on online math game websites. (Alan) Send home Friday folders with all the completed and graded work for the week. (Stephanie) Family Math nights once a month - have centers and games with food and music. (Katie) Instead of traditional math homework, send home math games which parents need to play with their children to complete the required homework. (Ellen) Send home half-sheets for parents of each of the standards or expectations in math. It has the "I can" statements and example problems on one side, and then the answers and any notes/explanations/steps on the other. (Eildh) Have a parent discussion question each week that students write in their planner. During the week, they discussed it with their parent, wrote the response, and parents signed the planner. (Krista) Send home weekly reflection sheets that the kids write about themselves, their behaviour, and their work. (Kathleen) Have leadership nights where students share their data notebooks and goals. (Laura) Have a science kit with fun experience that goes home with a student to complete with a parent. (Laurie) Setting up online challenges through the class website. (Marci) Weekly homework sheet that has a current math concept, mini reading log, and quick reading piece with short questions to answer. Parent participation was encouraged. It kept parents in the loop and gave students practice with current work. (Kathy) Phys ed portfolio that is sent home with a family fitness challenge. (Melissa) Pose a question on the classblog about something learned each week. Parents check the student responses before they post ... that way they learn about something we learned, and help their children with spelling and grammar. (Kristen) Send home math extension menu activities and get parents to try them out, too. You can then have the parents do a reflective note back to the teacher about the experience. (Melissa) When preparing for tests, have the students teach their parents a lesson/skill from the unit. The parents write to the teacher, telling what they learned ... and they get to brag about their child as a teacher. (Lisa) Through the shutterfly blog, you can take pictures of students actually completing the work, and parents can order the pics right through the site. (Jen) In the Friday journal, there are 3 specific questions about the learning from the week. Students choose 1 of the questions and write a letter to their parents explaining what they learned. Parents are supposed to write a short letter back to their child. (Jennifer) Thinking about this particular topic led me to create my Math by the Month resource. Once a month, the corresponding math sheet / poster could be sent home for students to complete with their parents. To encourage completion, students could be given a small reward, coupon, or entry into a monthly draw if sheets are returned by a certain date. The posters also include the answers, where applicable (some of the questions are open-ended, or depend on the number of students in the class or number of members in the family). A parent reflection checklist is also included for the parents to complete alongside the student (if desired). You can take a peek at this resource by clicking HERE. Be sure to download the free preview (I have included a free poster for you to try out in your classroom). :) If you have any other ideas about keeping parents involved with the learning at home, I'd love for you to leave them in a comment below. :)
If you have a child in school, you may have heard that it's good to be an "involved parent." While this is conventional wisdom, sometimes parents don't
