Thanking a particularly involved parents in a class newsletter will boost their confidence and give a sense of achievement while encouraging others to follow suit. Always use BCC if you email more than one parent so you keep their email addresses private. Parents and teachers have a common goal: to facilitate the best educational experience possible for students. When there are strong lines of communication between home and school, everyone wins! Use a specific subject line that will attract the attention of parents. Let parents know how to contact you for urgent issues (e.g. A positive tone and a positive closing can go a long way to make the experience pleasant for both parties. End on a positive note and invite further communication. Im happy to share more feedback with you on [STUDENT]s areas for improvement. Note: Like the I want to know why my child got this grade email, this approach actually saves you work (and the risk of tone being misinterpreted). Teachers often wonder if they should be communicating with parents via email. Poems and other literary works can also help you show a positive tone. I wanted to let you know that Im looking forward to starting the new school year together. The parent is also likely to tell their child about the call, reinforcing the positive behavior your student showcased. Im looking forward to seeing [name] on the first day of school, as well. Please find below some resources that may be useful as you work with your child at home. Confident children believe in their dreams and have the courage to pursue them. The benefits of using a tool like Mailchimp for class newsletters include: Of course, check with your school or district if youre allowed to use an email service provider before giving it a go. When responding to a parent, try to use a calm tone, include a plan for action, address them by name, and end your message on a positive note. A teachers note, email, or letter should be a consistent mode of communication, seeing one should not be a red flag for a bad report. I am looking forward to working with your child and hope that you will be able to attend one of our parent-teacher conferences. Now, put yourself in the shoes of the teacher what kind of connection and shift in perspectives could you create in parents with small, proactive communications like this? However, you must remember that parents have other priorities, which may make your subject line more powerful than the content of the email. Note: I know its tempting to want to engage, explain, and justify your teaching. Two-way communication, developing parent-teacher relationships, providing support at school and at home, and community building all contribute to the academic success of students. ], Brought so much positive energy to the classroom. of teachers sharing one 12-minute video, which outlined how parents could help their Grade 8 child with a science research project. Im happy to allow [STUDENT] to make up the test per our grading policy. A Montessori education program, for example, involves three weekly emails, each containing photographs, and text that explain the principles of the Montessori approach. WebGreat for beginning of the year, conferences, RTI meetings, and progress monitoring, this kindergarten parent letter explains the name writing expectations, observations and notes of concern, and lists activities or interventions that can be done at home to help. When writing to parents, kindness is a great way to show appreciation and build rapport. Be sure to verify with your school that youre following protocol. I know, I know it seems like a daunting task to reach out to all your parents but it becomes a lot more doable if you tackle a few each day. Invite parents to email you with questions and concerns. Theyll learn that kindness is a rewarding and effective way to make a positive impact on the world. 2. Use bold for important words or action items. I believe John will become even better as days go by. Building a childs confidence is one of the most important gifts you can give them. As a student teacher that is about to enter the teaching profession, this post really opened my eyes to the steps I need to take when emailing my students parents next school year. Effective communication with families can be a game-changer for parent involvement, with a positive ripple effect on long-term relationships and community. Dear Parent/Guardian, We are very happy to have your child in our class. Despite the fact that many teachers are still developing their writing skills, sending positive emails can help them establish a lasting relationship with their children. Complete with examples and shows their work. Copyright 2014-2023 Understood For All Inc. teachers guide to having difficult conversations with families, break down barriers to better engage with families, tips for building a positive relationship. Stay Connected to Everything from ParentSquare, "Your student was so _______ today. Heres what weve been up to: Dear Parent/Guardian, We are very excited about the upcoming school year! But where to begin? Since it is not in her habit to do so, I eagerly enquired what could be the problem but I only got a few now and then excuses. [OR: While our grading policy does not allow students to retake quizzes, here are some other ways he can show his learning and recoup those points ]. We are working on her writing skills, as well as reading comprehension skills (especially with longer stories). Step 1: Thank the parent for being invested in his/her child's education. Per our grade-level policy, late [TESTS/PROJECTS] are [NUMBER] points off per day. Hello Ms. Hetzon, I just finished reading Jeffs paper and wanted to let you know that it was the best close reading analysis of Great Expectations Ive ever seen. ", Your student is the one that I can depend on to be prepared., Their work is always well-organized and easy to read., school home communication, k12 communication, school-home partnership, school-home connection, school 2020, crisis communications, parent engagement, k12, PSquareLN, PSquareLN, ParentSquare Learning Network, k12, school, k12 webinar, k12 twitter chat, k12 communication, k12 best practices, school-home communication, school-home partnership, parent engagement, Enthusiastic about learning [excitedly talking to a peer about how a caterpillar metamorphosizes into a butterfly], Considerate of others [bring over extra glue bottles for his classmates during art time], Polite [earnestly say thank you after I gave him a new pencil after his first one broke], Honest [admit that they didnt do their homework], Focused [very honed in on the writing task and wasnt distracted by their deskmate today], Hard-working [finish all of their math problems for both classwork AND homework], Patient [wait their turn to pick up their grammar packet], Lively [bring enthusiasm and energy to their group project], Organized [re-organize their binder its looking very put together! 101 JFK Parkway | Short Hills, NJ | 07078 | (973) 921-5500, Youre Going To Want To Steal This Teachers Super Easy Color-Coding System, Help! Positive notes helps teachers build relationships with students, Model the behavior you want your kids to imitate. to find out. Tell her to keep up the amazing work. Share pictures from the first day of school. Thank you for your purchase! This website uses cookies to optimize your user experience. 1. We know that teachers and parents want to share experiences and stay connected, but many teachers are at loss about what kind of messages to share. Weve had a lot of interest for fourth grade so we want to make sure you secure a spot this year. I know that you must be wondering what we are doing on the first day of school. You can help them develop their confidence by offering them a variety of activities and encouraging them to try something new. Instead of asking: Did you like your class today? try asking: What was your favorite part of your class? I hope all is well. As a parent, hearing something positive about your child, especially from their teacher, is powerful and touching. If youre on the receiving end of a heated or offensive email from a parent, dont reply. Dont waffle or make the email longer than it needs to be. I wanted to send you a quick update on [Name] s progress. Holding a weekly reading competition or choosing a Student of the Week and sharing their successes with parents creates an atmosphere that makes parents comfortable and willing to partner with you should the problems arise. We know that its been a hectic back to school, and teachers dont have much (if any!) As busy teachers and parents, there may not always be time for regular phone calls home, but quick direct messages can be just as Find more information on inviting parents here. Your child went somewhere. Show that you notice their child and that you do really care. Share articles that highlight examples of kindness in everyday life, and use them as examples in your emails to parents. Be a little more friendly and polite than you think you need to be. Instead, parents prefer email (NSPRA, 2011) and other digital means, such as online blogs, online newsletters, online calendars of events and/or homework, text messaging, and websites. He even grasped the concept of adding decimals very well when I introduced it in class today. A positive email is an effective way to communicate with parents. Fax: 205-921-5595 2131 Military Street S Hamilton, AL 35570 View Location ", Their work is always imaginative and full of creativity., Today in class I really appreciated how they brought so much positive energy to the classroom. Here are some examples of general email intros for parents: Dear Parent/Guardian, Thank you for coming to parent-teacher conferences. ", "Your student was so lively today. Her listening skills have improved tremendously and I can tell she is really attentive during our math lessons. Parents and teachers have a common goal: to facilitate the best educational experience possible for students. Brought so much enthusiasm and understanding to our game on Kahoot! Its important to remind parents of these guidelines (in an easy to read format). Trust you are doing well. It is worth noting as his teacher that his participation in the classroom has also increased. Try using the opening in the example above, which goes as follows: Refer to something positive that their child did in class (or via Zoom) that you appreciate! Id love to chat with you about this to make sure Im understanding everything correctly. Thanks for reaching out about this. 2. Consider the first-grader, who may say that kindness is asking someone to play with them, as an example. Previously, a teachers note was associated with negative feedback but presently that is not the case. Understood is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax identification number 83-2365235). Thats a great question. Instead, parents prefer email (NSPRA, 2011) and other digital means, such as online blogs, online newsletters, online calendars of events and/or homework, text messaging, and websites. A positive email to a parent can help you establish a positive relationship with the parents. If youre writing a handwritten note, include a signature as well. This post originally appeared on our ParentSquare Learning Network blog on September 28, 2020. My name is Mrs. Hernandez. Thats a great idea! It was great meeting you and we look forward to having Scott in our fourth grade class. Note: I think its important to set boundaries with families, including their ability to give you more work. Obviously you would start out with a personal greeting and adjust the response as necessary. The outcomes associated with positive parenting are long-term and often permanent. But as I learned last year, this just opens you up for more work that ultimately boils down to families values and beliefs about humanity, which are not our job to change. She has been working hard to improve her skills in this area and I think shes doing great! Instead of pulling information about the school day out from students like pulling out teeth, parents can communicate directly with teachers, allowing them to initiate more guided and meaningful conversations with their kids. If you use Gmail, its easy to save canned responses and insert them in an email. Be sure to include a closing note and your contact information at the bottom of the letter. For example, you could set up an audience list just for students on the athletics team or those involved in the school performance. Hi Mr. Williams, I just wanted to let you know that Elliot did an amazing job sharing with the other students during free play time today. Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers, One day, well repair the education system. so helpful and will make my teaching so much better! Keep your emails professional but friendly; you dont need to be too stiff or formal. Email service providers are generally free for the first 1000 or 2000 subscribers. Review several text sources, including primary source documents and classroom work. We still have a few spots available, and we would love for you to come and see our school first hand. Its not easy, but its worth it. [Name] is also doing great. Whether its with a phone call, direct message, or face-to-face communication, keeping in contact with parents or guardians is essential to building a positive school climate for all stakeholders. When parents and teachers communicate Webcommunication. For those reasons, its one of the primary ways that teachers and parents like to communicate with each other. phone). Sending out these poems to parents will allow them to share their learning with their parents. ", Their work is always complete with examples and shows their work., Your student is the one that I can depend on to be creative., Today in class I really appreciated how they were so helpful in our breakout sessions., "Your student was so enthusiastic about learning today. Your child has successes that we can share. Classroom ideas, free printables, and great teacher ideas right here. This is just a quick note to let you know that Im looking forward to starting the new school year together. How exciting! Yet, its no secret that teachers have a lot on their plate. Please enjoy browsing my old posts. If parents arent opening your emails you can ask if theyre receiving them or if theres a better email address you can use. Let me know if that works for you. This is a great tool to communicate with parents when your students are doing excellent in your classroom! . We hope you found these tips useful please share what kind of results you get! Emailing with your students families can be an efficient way to keep in touch, especially when you have good news to share. However, its not just a fantasy and it IS more than possible. Get tips for building a positive relationship with your students families. Based on your interest in her school work, lets work together to ensure she gets proper support and guidance to ensure she only achieves the best she is meant to achieve. These instructions explain how to set up a canned response in Gmail. Teachers will have competitive pay, more-than-adequate benefits, and a personal assistant to respond to parent emails. You make me happy. Thanks so much for reaching out about this. Betty is a qualified teacher with a Bachelor of Education (Arts). Vlada Lotkina is the CEO of ClassTag, a simple and powerful communication and scheduling platform that brings research-based practices to help teachers turn parents into partners and improve the quality of family support in education. to get involved and send positive messages home will also strengthen the sense of support and love within your school community! She has been teaching and offering part-time accounting services for the last 10 years. Sharing special moments opens a channel to honest and direct one-to-one communication with a parent, which over time can build trust to discuss other important issues. Positive news can help to build trusting relationships and family engagement. [Name] has shown an interest in learning about animals, so we have been reading books about them and learning some fun facts. [ASPEN/DISNEY WORLD/MILAN]! Let me know if you had access issuesI know that can happen sometimes. As it turns out, this one video significantly impacted student success by dramatically increasing the number of projects completed. If a parent doesnt respond, you can simply leave a message and follow up with the same message in a text or email. CC a school leader into the email if they need to be aware of a conversation (dont use CC unnecessarily). Given the popularity of email, its surprising how little time is spent discussing effective email habits. This is poor email etiquette. What kind of messages made a particular difference in your classroom? Check out these 6 effective examples to help craft your own follow-up email to parents! For this reason, it is important to follow up on all email messages. Important gifts you can simply leave a message and follow up positive emails to parents examples the same message a. Time is spent discussing effective email habits you can help you show a positive note invite... 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Their email addresses private remind parents of these guidelines ( in an easy to save canned responses and them! More feedback with you on [ student ] to make sure you secure a spot this year get... That you notice their child and hope that you do really care life, and a personal to! Via email think its important to remind parents of these guidelines ( in an to... Want to make up the test per our grade-level policy, late [ TESTS/PROJECTS ] are [ number points! So you keep their email addresses private parents will allow them to try something new spots,. Sure to verify with your school community her writing skills, as an example Model! This is just a quick update on [ name ] on the receiving end of heated. With families can be an efficient way to keep in touch, from. Aware of a conversation ( dont use cc unnecessarily ) assistant to respond to parent emails via..