The Importance of Connecting with Your Students and Their Parents Presented by Cheryl Abla Douglas County Schools-Colorado Cheryl.abla@dcsdk12.org Why Did you Choose the Career of Teaching? Think-Pair-Share Turn to someone at your table and discuss why you chose your career of working with children. Relationship Building with the Parents of your Students is the Foundation for the School Year. We have to let parents know we have their prized possessions in our care for seven hours a day. Listen to your student s parents/give them the time they need to be heard. Communicate-Communicate 1
It is very important that your parents are clear of your expectations for the school year: Email often Positive feedback from a project, test, or social situation Upcoming events, projects, parties,and tests Notes home Phone calls Newsletters 4 Notes home: Certificates for recognition of a skill or academic success A brief note home for a job well-done Phone Calls: Call home when a child has had a successful day whether it be an academic or a behavioral accomplishment. When making a phone call remember to ask the family how they are. This is all part of connecting with the parents. Always start with something positive or light when making a call of concern. 6 2
Always give specifics of what you the teacher will be doing in the classroom to help the child be successful. Next, move on to what you specifically would like the parents to do in order to help their child be successful End on a positive note and leave the conversation with a willingness to visit at any time. Newsletters Depending on the age of the students you teach, your newsletter is an excellent connection from the classroom to the home: Keep the newsletter short and to the point (Parents are busy people) Celebrate the learning that is taking place in your classroom Ask for volunteers to donate supplies your students need for class. Have children create the newsletter whenever possible. Parents LOVE that! Post it on your website if possible Create podcasts to post on the website often. Parent Connections cont. Remember the struggles that parents are dealing with: Give empathy toward parents Remember the phrase: I understand what you are saying. Look past the family struggles and search for the gifts their child is bringing to the world. 3
What Do you Remember About the Teachers who Made a Positive Difference in your Life? Classroom Environment *Relationships Type of Personality Events Think-Pair-Share (Video from Children) click here QuickTime and a DV/DVCPRO - NTSC decompressor are needed to see this picture. What Can you do to Create Lasting Connections with your Students? Life lesson for a teacher.. don t teach from your head. teach from the heart. you will be so much more effective. Life Lesson number two. let your guard down and let the kids see the real you. 4
Most importantly..let kids know you care about them: Listen to them Make connections outside of school through their writing or just listening to them talk to you or others: Sports Family Hobbies 13 Connections to Kids cont. Ask yourself, what do my students need from me? It s the reality of our position Do they need someone to just listen? Do they need breakfast? Are they over medicated? Specific Suggestions Your students must know you care about them. Keep Band-Aids and Bactine in your classroom. Never give up on a child. Enjoy your students everyday. Make your classroom enjoyable it s your home away from home. 5
Greet all children in the hall with a smile and a hello. Be observant. Keep chocolate handy for yours and your friends rough days. Play with kids at recess. Eat lunch with your students and get to know them. 16 More Ideas Take a student out for ice cream. Celebrate the small stuff. Make your read alouds FUN and EXCITING. Let the kids see that you to make mistakes. Write with and in front of your students often. Surprise them. Keep a bouquet of fresh flowers in your classroom. Change things up occasionally. Catch the kids being good. 18 6
Ideas Cont. Give it 100%. Keep a file of positive notes from kids and parents; you will need them on the rough days. Play board games and math games with your students. Use your intuition. Let the kids see you laughing with friends and colleagues. Remember former students names. 20 Keep your passion for learning alive. 21 7