1. Building Relationships with Parents/First Days of School
Grades 3-5

2. Welcome! A little about me!

3. First Day Jitters

4. Establish Classroom Climate
Can you tolerate noise? Must the room always be quiet?
Must your classroom be neat (orderly rows, clean boards, limited clutter) or can you stand it messy?
How do you want student to turn in work?

5. Important First Days Advice
Be Professional (dress, attitude, manner)
Be Prepared
Be Organized (whatever this means for you)
Be Patient
Be a Real Person, and Honor Each Student as a Real Person
Be Sensible with Discipline
Be Aware of Your Own Needs

6. Reasons to Contact Parents?
Thoughts on this?
Good reports?
Bad days?
Test days?

7. Biggest Reason for Most Parent Contact is…Discipline!
Be consistent!
Rarely sit down!
Quickly learn and use student names
Find an effective means of quieting students, avoid “SHHHHH”
Avoid using threats for control of the class but if you do, be prepared to carry it out
Don’t make promises you can’t keep
When possible discipline a child one-on-one instead of across the room

8. How will you contact parents?
In my situation, it depends on the reason…
Agenda?
Phone call?
Notes?
Request a conference?

9. My thoughts on parent contact
Establish a positive rapport with parents and administration (you will have some meeting with both)
Keep good, strong lines of communication open between you and parents
Decide how you want to be contacted ( , school phone, personal phone, text messages, face-to-face)…My advice is NOT to communicate through social medias (our district does not allow it)
Don’t be afraid to contact parents
Contact parents about positive changes also
Encourage parents to be proud of their children
Provide opportunities to volunteer/participate in the classroom

10. Keep a Parent Contact Log
Some school districts will require this
Make it simple and keep it handy!
I don’t use a log to keep track of notes in agenda books, but for conferences and phone calls I try to make quick notes!
Date Type of Contact Reason for Contact Outcome

11. Attention Grabbers Teacher: Ba da ba ba ba (McDonald’s Theme)
Students: I’m Lovin’ It!
Teacher: Na na na na, na na na na
Students: Hey, hey, hey, goodbye
Teacher: Hocus Pocus
Students: Everybody focus!
Teacher: Macaroni and Cheese
Students: Everybody freeze!
Teacher: Tootsie Roll, Lollipop
Students: We’ve been talking, now let’s stop!

12. Don’t Get Stuck…ask for help!

13. Have Fun!
In memory of some great role models!

14. Have Fun!!!!

17. Fun Sites to Check Out…if we have time!
Brainpop and Brainpop Jr
Learn360
Edhelper
Education World