Creating a Newsletter

As part of the group assignment this week we had to come up with a newsletter that we would send out to parents. I was not able to get on to the meeting where we discussed how we were going to do this. I was given the task of coming up with ways in which teachers and parents can communicate. This last assignment has been much more stressful than any of the past assignments. I think maybe because it is nearing the end of the semester or maybe because I couldn't get on to the meeting, I don't know. Like I said earlier I focused on ways in which teachers could communicate with parents. Here are some of my thoughts:
I think it is so important to start the lines of communication early, even before school starts. Reaching out to parents with a phone call, introducing yourself and welcoming them to your class. During this conversation the teacher may want to ask what is the best way the parent is to be reached, cell phone, email, alternate phone number, etc. I realize that the teacher may not be able to reach all parents. So, another way to communicate is to send out a welcome letter. In the letter the teacher will include their contact information, phone number, email address, web-page address. A small survey will be attached to those parents that were not reached by phone call, the survey will ask what is the perferred method of communication: phone, email, alternate number. The parents will fill that out and return with the student. In the welcome newsletter the teacher will also inform parents of what the students will be learning throughout the year, teacher expectations, and responsibilities of the student. Since ths students are part of a cluster, the same teachers for all core classes, the core teachers will work together to form a cluster web page. This web page will include contact information for each teacher, weekly assignments: homework, projects, test and quiz dates, and any other class news. Parents will be able to frequent the site to find out what their child is working on or to make sure their child is completing the assignments. Also, the teachers can provide a secured link so that parents can monitor their child grades. Access will only be given to the parent or gaurdian of the child. In an urban school environment, parents may not have access to a computer or internet. I think it is important to set up an alternate means of communication so no parent is left in the dark. Each month the cluster teachers could work together to form a newsletter that will be sent out to all parents. This should not be too time consuming since most of the information included in the newletter will already be posted in the web-page.
It is so important that parents do not hear from teachers twice a year for parent-teacher conferences or when the student is misbehaving in class. I believe the newsletter and web-page are great ways to keep the parents connected with what is going on in the classroom