It's brought to you by my good friend Daisy Marino. Daisy is a teacher in Warren, Texas. She is passionate, innovative, and kind. So without further ado....here's Daisy's challenge for YOU!
From Daisy:
First off, watch her video HERE.
I am a strong believer that parent/teacher relationships are vital to educating the
whole child. When we are working together as a whole unit instead of just parts we
are going to be more successful. My challenge for you is to tear down the walls
between teachers and parents. I am on a mission to open up the lines of
communication and form relationships that help foster student success, and I hope
that you will join me. There are several different ways you can begin. I challenge you
to choose two of the following:
1. A simple postcard home – Send a positive postcard home to at least three
students this week. They will be thrilled to receive “real” mail, and their
parents will appreciate that someone else took the time to notice their child’s
great qualities. Students are more than just students. They are artists. They
are kind. They are helpers. Let them know that you’ve noticed and that you’re
thankful they are in your class.
2. Start a Remind group for your class – Remind is an amazing way to
provide effective communication to your parents and students. I send
spelling lists, reminders about upcoming events, pictures of students during
school, and encouraging words. Parents will always be in the know, and the
frustration of forgetting events or homework lists will be removed from
already stressful evenings full of activities, sports, dinners, and homework.
Visit www.remind.com where they provide you with easy instructions to
start your own group. They also have tips on ways to use Remind in your
class, blogs about educational happenings, and teachers for you to connect
with from all over. I am on their Teacher Advisory Board (so is Todd) and
would love to answer any questions that you have regarding their awesome
tools for teachers.
3. Start a class or school Facebook page – We started our school Facebook
page 2 years ago and have had amazing results. Our page is not just an
informational page. Our Facebook page provides parents with a glimpse into
the day of students in our school. It’s like they get to walk down the halls of
WES and check out what’s going on. Parents have been extremely
appreciative of the up to date happenings and pictures of their students
being actively engaged throughout the school day…not to mention having
fun! These students are their kids. They love them and miss them during the
day. Being able to see a glimpse of what they are doing while away from them
is comforting. It also gives parents the opportunities to ask questions at the
dinner table. Example – “I saw a picture of your class on an Augmented
Reality Scavenger Hunt. What’s that??” Here is the link to the school
Facebook page that I manage for Warren Elementary School. Check it out for
ideas.
4. Start a school YouTube channel – I started our school YouTube channel in
hopes of providing supplemental learning to parents, teachers, and students.
Our assistant principal, Karen Ford, has made wonderful videos outlining
parent pick-up and drop-off, dress code, and staff development for teachers.
These videos have been extremely helpful to parents and teachers new to the
district. Teachers are making videos to help students with their homework at
night. What does this communicate to parents? It shows them that we care. It
shows them that they matter. It shows them that we will go the extra mile to
ensure student success. Our YouTube channel is new, but please take a look
at it. I hope that it will give you a few ideas. Setting up a YouTube channel is
extremely easy. In fact, I watched a YouTube video to figure out how to do it!
My students love making their own videos to help their peers and then
watching them at home with their parents. Check out our WES Warriors You
Tube channel here:
Good luck! I hope that you will connect with me on Twitter @daisyray215. I can’t
wait to check out the #EduLS hashtag to see how your challenge is going. If you have
any other tips on parent/teacher communication please share them out.
Clcck this link to claim your badge!
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