Communication

=Communication in the Third Grade Classroom=

**Communication in the classroom is a vital element. Communication between the student and teacher, students, parent and teacher, and student and parents are all very important.**

= = **1) Student letters to teacher**

(source-personal idea) It is important for the student to be able to communicate with the teacher and let the teacher know how he or she feels about certain things. Each month, i think the student should be given a sheet of paper. On that paper they are to write down all of the things they would like the teacher to know. The teacher should prompt the students to write about things the teacher can change, things that the teacher is doing good, and any sort of problem the student has with the teacher. The teacher then takes these letters home and reviews them. A class meeting will take place the next day where the teacher discusses the concerns that appeared more than once. This allows the teacher to really get to know the students and treat them like they have a say in the classroom.

=**2)Warm Fuzzies**= (student to student communication) (source- http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior.html)  Students can give each other "Warm Fuzzies." These are handmade pom-pom balls with googly-eyes and a pin back hot-glued to the back. Make them for the kids and they can give Warm Fuzzies to anyone that has done something nice for someone else. It's a way for them to recognize others for doing random acts of kindness. They really enjoy it and when they earn a Warm Fuzzy, they usually pin it to their backpacks and show them off with pride. :)    =** 3) Parent Contract Forms ** =  (source- http://www.teachervision.fen.com/education-and-parents/resource/3730.html)  A child's education can be greatly enhanced by their parents' involvement in the classroom and at home. Use these printables and articles to prepare for successful parent-teacher interactions during parent-teacher conferences, at an open house, and throughout the school year. Our collaboration forms will help you communicate with parents about their child's progress. You'll find great advice on how parents can support their child's development. Tapping in to the support of parents will enable you to teach more effectively.

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/ContactRecord.pdf =4)**Parent information handbook**=
 * below is a link to an enlarged form**
 * (Source-**http://www.tips-for-teachers.com/Parent%20Communication.htm#Weekly Correspondence)
 * this handbook can be modified to your classroom and can contain what you think parents should know. However, sending a handbook home of all classroom procedures, rules, ext, and having the parent signing that they have viewed all of the information is important.

At the very beginning of school I send home a handbook for parents and students. This has all the essential information about how our classroom works. From grades and behavior to birthdays and attendance. It is all there. Parents sign and return the bottom slip. This way no parent can say they did not know!!! Click [|here] to see Parent Packet explaining classroom procedures and schedules. Here is my most current parent handbook from the 2007-2008 school year. This is geared toward my second grade class. Many of my awesome teammates in second helped me add new ideas to the packet, so not all these ideas or words are mine.)

Here it it is [|PDF] and here it is in [|Word]. = = =5) Positive post cards= (source-http://www.tips-for-teachers.com/Parent%20Communication.htm#Weekly Correspondence) At the beginning of the school year sit down and and address a post card with a cheerful saying on front about "Good News from School!" (we get these free from the company that takes the student portraits). I address AND stamp them. My goal is to send home ALL of the post cards by the end of the year. I keep them all rubber banded on my desk. When I have a spare moment, I flip through the stack of cards and jot down a quick note to the student and/or parents noting something special the child has done: improved in behavior, great job on a project, befriended the new kid in class, etc. I drop them in the front mailbox the next morning in the front office. Parents love this AND the kids love this.  = = = 6) Testing letters = (source- Personal experience/ http://www.tips-for-teachers.com/Parent%20Communication.htm#Weekly Correspondence) When students are scheduled to have standardized test, send home letters informing the parents of when the tests are, times, ext. The letter should be modified to the test your students are taking as well as the correct times. Below is an example of how a fourth grade teacher makes her letters and sends them home, as well as a link to a sample letter. This letter can be modified to third grade as well as can be specially addressed to each parent. If there are problem students in your class, or students who you have noticed have test taking anxiety you can specially address this things in the letter.

Click [|here] to see testing note. =**7)Newsletters**= http://www.tips-for-teachers.com/Parent%20Communication.htm#Weekly Correspondence)
 * (source-personal experience/ observing at BlackBurn/ found example online at:**

Put together a newsletter every week/ once a month to send home with the students. This newsletter can let the parents know what standards you have been working on all week, the student of the week, birthdays, or even special events coming up. This is just away to keep the parents involved with what is going on in the classroom. This template was found online. The newsletter can be modified to fit any classroom, things can be added or taken out, this is just an example.

Click[| here] to see the newsletter created in Word as a template. [|Here]is an example of this newsletter filled in. = **8) Student Directory**  = (source-http://www.tips-for-teachers.com/Parent%20Communication.htm#Weekly Correspondence) At the beginning of the end send home a paper that is has a section for the students name, students allergies, things the student likes, things the student does not like, birthday, and parent signature

have the parent fill out the form and send it back to school. Once all of the parents have filled out this form, compile all the information on one word document and send it out to all the parents and keep one in the classroom. This way if the parents want to bring in things for parties/ the teacher wants to have a party, communication is clear about what type food allergies ext each student has. = 9) Website =

Construct a website that includes all the classroom rules, standards, classroom schedules, dates, consequences, ext. Give students and parents the link to this website. They will be able to check the website constantly and see what is going on in the classroom. Below is a link to a third grade teachers website. This is just an example of what a website for a classroom could look like.

http://www2.rccsd.org/MSmith/index.htm

= = =**10) Family Day**= A letter is sent home once a semester that invites students to bring a family member to lunch one day. During this day, the family member comes to lunch and stays for an after lunch activity. While the family member is with the student, the student has to tell the family member about classroom rules and explain to them how they are suppose to act at lunch and in the classroom. This allows the parent to see how the classroom is ran and understand the rules. It allows the child to communicate with the parent and show them what they are learning first hand = =
 * (source- Personal idea)**