1. Communication Michelle Smart

2. Plan Before the school year starts make sure to have a classroom website. On the website tell a little bit about yourself and accomplishments, routines and expectations you have in the classroom. Regardless of the grade you are teaching, put a welcome letter outside of your classroom door for parents to read when they find out who their teacher is. Set expectations for the parents that you are not able to meet until AFTER Back to School Night. Specify the times and days you are available to meet to discuss their children. Before the school year starts make sure to have a classroom website. On the website tell a little bit about yourself and accomplishments, routines and expectations you have in the classroom. Regardless of the grade you are teaching, put a welcome letter outside of your classroom door for parents to read when they find out who their teacher is. Set expectations for the parents that you are not able to meet until AFTER Back to School Night. Specify the times and days you are available to meet to discuss their children.

3. Back to School Night This is the time where you will need to let the parents know how you will run your classroom, school rules and best ways to contact you. Simple things like where to line up, where to pick children up at, etc. You have to set boundaries for your classroom. Communicating what you need and being consistent will open the door for a successful year. This is the time where you will need to let the parents know how you will run your classroom, school rules and best ways to contact you. Simple things like where to line up, where to pick children up at, etc. You have to set boundaries for your classroom. Communicating what you need and being consistent will open the door for a successful year.

4. How Do You Know Your Rights? Make sure to READ your Staff Handbook. --Covers everything from absences to custodial services. Be familiar with you CEA teacher Handbook. How can the Union protect you? Never meet with angry parents with out another teacher present or your principal. CC: your principal with any and all emails from disgruntled parents. If a parent is being aggressive, you have the right to ask them to leave, you can call the principal to help you, or you can leave and walk to the office to have the conversation there. Make sure to READ your Staff Handbook. --Covers everything from absences to custodial services. Be familiar with you CEA teacher Handbook. How can the Union protect you? Never meet with angry parents with out another teacher present or your principal. CC: your principal with any and all emails from disgruntled parents. If a parent is being aggressive, you have the right to ask them to leave, you can call the principal to help you, or you can leave and walk to the office to have the conversation there.

5. Conferences/Meetings Think… how am I going to greet families? What are some positive comments you can use to build a good relationship and partnership?What information do you need from the family? Find the positive: What are the students strengths, what student work are you going to show the family? Growth: What are some areas for improvement? Questions about health? Plan: What learning goals do you have for the student? What can the family do at home to support? What will the student do and what will you do? Communicate that parents set up a meeting time so you can make sure to have these things ready for your meeting. You dont want to be caught off guard. Think… how am I going to greet families? What are some positive comments you can use to build a good relationship and partnership?What information do you need from the family? Find the positive: What are the students strengths, what student work are you going to show the family? Growth: What are some areas for improvement? Questions about health? Plan: What learning goals do you have for the student? What can the family do at home to support? What will the student do and what will you do? Communicate that parents set up a meeting time so you can make sure to have these things ready for your meeting. You dont want to be caught off guard.

6. Success Enjoy your classroom, but be ready to set clear expectations for your students and parents. If youre not sure, ask a colleague. Update your website weekly and email your parents with any and all changes to your schedule. Never talk to a crying child or parent. -Caryl Hodges, Ed. D, USF Enjoy your classroom, but be ready to set clear expectations for your students and parents. If youre not sure, ask a colleague. Update your website weekly and email your parents with any and all changes to your schedule. Never talk to a crying child or parent. -Caryl Hodges, Ed. D, USF