The slides below are the "notes" from our 10/19/17 professional learning session on building family partnerships. Thank you to Mr. K for hosting the session in your classroom, and to all of the teachers who contributed to the important conversation.
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I was moved by this mama's story about her middle school daughter's teacher, Mr. B, building a connection with his students and families through a simple index card writing activity.
If you haven't already asked your students' parents about their child's passions, this might be a great (and simple yet POWERFUL) way to do so. Will you take the challenge? SHOUTOUT to rockstar Noelani Elementary veteran teachers Katherine Nakamura, Cynthia Chang, Mari Neely, and Lauren Christensen, who hosted September's Beginning Teacher PLC on classroom management and building family partnerships.
LOTS of strategies were shared, and teachers came away with new insights. Here are some takeaways: * Know what motivates your students. Praise works wonders! * Teach, model, and practice routines and procedures. Be consistent! Be creative! * KNOW your families and make sure to share specific, positive reflections on your students with their families * Communicate with your families regularly. Make sure they know that you CARE.
I ran a family-school partnerships PD class for teachers this past weekend and we covered Student-Led conferences. Just wanted to share the Padlet we created with resources and brainstorming around benefits of student-led conferences and challenges we might encounter. Feel free to add to thePadlet!
Every time I'd see an unexpected parent e-mail in my inbox, I'd hold my breath. Every single time. More often than not, it would be a random question or two that would require a simple clarifying response. No big deal.
But then there were other e-mails I got where I had to take a deep breath and really think about how I was going to respond. I had to remind myself, always, that I needed to grow and nurture these family relationships and responding productively and professionally was essential. I came across this blog written by one of my favorite people, Sarah Brown Wessling, and she shares really valuable tips for e-mailing parents. Check it out HERE!
This Padlet (click here for the full screen) was created by a group of teachers taking my Family School Partnerships professional development course. I love all of the ideas they had for building relationships with families. Please add your ideas to the padlet as well!
Dear Superhero Teachers (and especially to my son Daniel's Superhero Teachers),
Growing up, teachers were always my heroes, and they came in many forms. It was my grandfather, who taught me the value of education. My choir director, Miss Melinda, who brought music into my life. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Sekiguchi, whose nurturing helped me fall in love with school. My sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Yamanuha, who helped me find my writing voice, and my high school teacher Dr. Northern, whose passion for science helped make that difficult subject my favorite one. When I became a classroom teacher, my students became my best teachers. They taught me that every day mattered; every day was one where learning, growth, and discovery could take place, where seeds could be planted, where someone could bloom. So yes, I have always known that teachers were heroes. But I added in the SUPER part when I became a parent and realized the true power that teachers possess. My son, Daniel, was blessed with superhero teachers from the time that he was in preschool. Miss Cami, with her tickle spins and fun loving attitude brought out Daniel's energetic, playful side, while Miss Jess's sweetness helped his creativity shine. Ms. Wendy and Ms. Shannon's encouragement fueled Daniel's curiosity and confidence. Mrs. Chang. It took me half a year to be able to talk with Daniel's current kindergarten teacher Mrs. Chang without getting teary with gratitude. Like many parents, I was anxious sending Daniel off to "big kid school" this past fall. Adding to the anxiety was that right before the year started, he began wearing leg braces, got fitted for glasses, developed a nervous breathing pattern, and started talking with an imaginary friend, "Baby Mouse." But after that first day of school, when Daniel came home beaming, chattering nonstop about Mrs. Chang, and saying that school was "better than he even dreamed it would be," I knew that we'd be just fine. It is Mrs. Chang's modeling of respect and caring that has helped Daniel develop friendships, and her enthusiasm about teaching and learning that has made Daniel come home every day saying, "School was GREAT" and then surprising me with all kinds of new information and questions. It's Mrs. Chang's power of knowing her students and openly appreciating their uniqueness that has helped Daniel become proud of who he is, and develop the courage to take risks. He has become better and stronger because of Mrs. Chang, and I couldn't be more grateful. I love that Daniel is excited to go to school every day, that in his favorite moments (like the first time he surfed with his big brother) he tells me that he can't wait to write about it in his "Ducky Book" at school, and I love that he calls himself a reader, writer, and complex thinker. I am thankful that due to his computer teacher Miss Choy, Daniel is becoming an ethical and responsible technology user and because of his PE teacher, Mrs. Lum, he is stronger, more skilled and confident, and a better team player. I am thankful for Daniel's time with Mr. Ikehara (music), Mrs. Graham (library), and Kupuna (Hawaiian Studies), for they are all shaping him to be more grounded, well rounded, and appreciative of life's beautiful things- music, books, language, and history. I realize, when I think of my son's own teachers, how you teachers are all SUPERheroes. You might not even see yourself as a superhero, but trust me, your students do. And their parents do as well. You take our children, as they are, and use your unique powers for good- making them stronger and better. You are resilient- showing up day after day in the toughest of conditions, because you know that your work will make this world a more beautiful place. And you save the day- your kind, encouraging words, your enthusiasm, your genuine love for learning- all of that- brings light every day into the lives of the students you teach. Know that today, and every day, we appreciate you and the superhero you are. Want to show your favorite superhero teacher what they mean to you? Download this "I appreciate _______ because ______" pdf and share it! #ThankATeacher #MahaloTeacher When I was a classroom teacher, the relationships and communication I had with my students' parents were crucial to the success of my students. When parents know that you know their child, that you really "get" their child and that you care about their well being (social, emotional, and academic), they will be on your side forever. More than that, their child will understand that the most influential adults in their lives are on the same team- and they'll start fighting for the same thing you're fighting for- their own growth and success. Every February, I start a LOVE NOTE home challenge! Will you join the challenge? I promise it will leave many hearts fuller! I love this 3 minute video about how children get 4 levels of rewards when teachers send a note home. Watch it for some inspiration!
Below are links to templates you can download or that you can use to create your own "Love Letter" home template! http://thebrownbagteacher.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-pbis-idea-positive-notes-home.html http://www.classroomfreebies.com/2011/10/note-home-to-parents-for-student.html file:///Users/kristenbrummel/Downloads/TCM_Handouts_April2014.pdf Want to take this Challenge further? Try the FRIDAY FIVE! Read this post by Mr. B for more information. It's incredible. Share your results here (keep the students anonymous)- how did it make your chosen student and his/her parents feel? How did it make you feel? When I taught my fourth graders, I had one big requirement- read daily! I knew it was important, and I made sure they knew it was important as well.
But I didn't really think about the power and the joy of family reading time. Not until this year, as a parent of a kindergartner. Reading together has become more than part of our bedtime routine, it has become a time to cuddle and reflect and question and laugh and think about life's lessons and how the stories we're reading help us grow. It was an unexpected gift this week when we stumbled upon, "The Chocolate Touch" while Daniel was telling me on Sunday while eating his Yogurtland snack how funny it would be if everything turned into yogurt. It made me think of a childhood favorite book, "The Chocolate Touch," perfect for my little chocolate lover, and I immediately downloaded it onto my iPad (still can't get over how amazing and easy it is to get "books" now!). Daniel rushed to get ready for reading time every night so we could squeeze in an extra chapter of the book, and we'll be done this weekend. I love that he'll know the bittersweet feeling of reaching the end of a great book and being both proud and sad that his time with the story is done. Here are some wonderful resources to share with your families about reading with their children! Sometimes parents just a need a reminder of the importance of reading and how to get started, and then will come the joy. 9 Tips to Inspire Family Reading What Kids Want to Read Read Aloud Resolutions for the New Year Websites Promoting Literacy 2016 Newbery Caldecott Winners Winter break is just around the corner! Although the holiday season is busy for many families, the two weeks off from school is still a LOT of time at home for the kids, and many parents are looking for ways to keep the learning going. Here are some links that you can share with parents: Keep Skills Sharp During Winter Break 11 Fun Winter Break Activities Please share the Billion eBook Gift with your families! "This is the largest gift of books in history, with a billion classic eBooks given to families across the nation. This gift was created to ensure that all children have access to high-quality books at home. Every family who signs up at BillionBookGift.com can get a free library of 50 classic children’s eBooks absolutely free. You’ll be able to access the books via desktop computer, your Apple or Android phone, and via iPads and tablets." (-Lily Jones https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2015/11/30/billion-book-giveaway/) My personal favorite place to take the kids is the Art Explorium, located in Kaimuki. For $5 per child, he/she will have access to a TON of recycled materials and art project ideas. It's the perfect place to make homemade gifts for loved ones! |