1. Informal Communications Chapter 9

2. Ways to Communicate Daily conversations Daily conversations –Challenges –Barriers –Issues to be discussed

3. Telephone Calls Convenient time for parent Convenient time for parent Is parent allowed to have phone calls at work? Is parent allowed to have phone calls at work? Does teacher want to use after hours time to call parent at home? Does teacher want to use after hours time to call parent at home? What kinds of information is shared? What kinds of information is shared?

4. Personal Notes Staff not being able to construct sentences, or write in a professional manner Staff not being able to construct sentences, or write in a professional manner Parent’s reading ability? Parent’s reading ability? Parents language? Parents language? Can be misinterpreted, and you have put it in writing so for court purposes this could be dangerous. Can be misinterpreted, and you have put it in writing so for court purposes this could be dangerous.

5. Electronic Communication and use of technology Emails, once gain the language barrier and staff’s ability to communicate in an articulate manner and parent’s ability to receive the information. Emails, once gain the language barrier and staff’s ability to communicate in an articulate manner and parent’s ability to receive the information. Postings on a website, useful, like parent handbook, newsletter, upcoming dates, and policies. Postings on a website, useful, like parent handbook, newsletter, upcoming dates, and policies.

6. Bulletin Boards

7. Parents need to be trained to see them, and we need to provide use ful information on these. Parents need to be trained to see them, and we need to provide use ful information on these.

16. Daily News Flash This can be something the children are really excited about This can be something the children are really excited about posting it out side the door, Provides for an opportunity for child and parent to discuss what they did at school

17. Daily News Flash

21. Newsletters 30-3-30 Rule Parents fall into 3 categories generally: Parents fall into 3 categories generally: –30 Second Rule glances at the publications, reads headlines, captions and looks at photos –3 Minute Reader: reads those articles that interest them and attract their attention –30 Minute Reader: reads everything, and is the only parent who will points out all your errors.

22. WHY NEWSLETTERS ARE NOT READ Too long and too many pages Too long and too many pages Poor Quality Poor Quality Articles Too Long Articles Too Long Articles too long Articles too long articles improperly Titled articles improperly Titled Uninteresting Editorial Uninteresting Editorial

23. Reasons why continued Lack of appealing Newsletter Design Lack of appealing Newsletter Design Fail to involve parents Fail to involve parents Frequently inconsistent Frequently inconsistent Unorganized Unorganized

24. Establish Goals and Objectives for Newsletter Define your goals: Define your goals: –keep parents informed –to enhance parenting skills –to promote school’s philosophy –to motivate parents into assisting school –to recognize children’s achievements –to ask for money/donations/assistance –?????????

25. Components of School Newsletter The Director’s Message The Director’s Message School News School News Parent Education Articles Parent Education Articles Volunteer/Child????/Teacher of the month Volunteer/Child????/Teacher of the month Parent Involvement News Parent Involvement News Staff Profiles Staff Profiles Say What? Children speak out Say What? Children speak out

26. Components Continued Autobiographies Autobiographies Class room notes Class room notes Themes Themes What’s Ahead What’s Ahead Question and Answer Question and Answer

27. Writing for Readership Bearer of Good News Bearer of Good News Write about past successes Write about past successes Use journalist techniques Use journalist techniques try to answer questions as who, what, when, where, why and how in the first paragraph of the story try to answer questions as who, what, when, where, why and how in the first paragraph of the story keep paragraphs and sentences short. No more than 20 words, no more than 3 or 4 sentences per paragraph keep paragraphs and sentences short. No more than 20 words, no more than 3 or 4 sentences per paragraph write as you would talk write as you would talk

28. Writing techniques cont.. Watch pronouns who is he/she? Watch pronouns who is he/she? Bullets can be effective but do not overdo. Bullets can be effective but do not overdo.

29. Traveling Suitcases Circulating ideas Journals that go between school and home daily great for the student who is bussed Journals that go between school and home daily great for the student who is bussed Teddy bear who travels to each child’s home throughout the year. Teddy bear who travels to each child’s home throughout the year.

30. Library Books or activities Drawback if parent does not return them, Drawback if parent does not return them,

31. The “CAN” One center uses the “CAN” as their show and share item, and each day one child takes it home, and then their show and share item has to fit inside the can, and the parent and child write out clues as to what it is, and a routine part of circle is to determine the item based on clues One center uses the “CAN” as their show and share item, and each day one child takes it home, and then their show and share item has to fit inside the can, and the parent and child write out clues as to what it is, and a routine part of circle is to determine the item based on clues

32. Parent Suggestion Box Great idea but do parents really put information in these? Great idea but do parents really put information in these?