Family involvement can be a struggle. I've seen it. I've heard the stories.
As a teacher, however, it is important to open communication with the students' families in order to help the student learn.
One possible way to do this: start (and maintain) a class website.
Class websites open communication between teachers, students, and the students' families. Parents can feel involved in their children's educational lives when the teacher invites them to check the website and see what work students are doing in the classroom.
Class websites open communication between teachers, students, and the students' families. Parents can feel involved in their children's educational lives when the teacher invites them to check the website and see what work students are doing in the classroom.
Homework assignments may be posted for the students who forgot or the parents who want to really make sure their child is telling the truth about not having any homework on a particular night.
Additionally, teachers may choose to add resources that parents and students may access at home. These resources can range from fun educational websites to information on the common core.
Also, making a website is fun. It's creative and personal. It's free. Teachers can (with parental permission) use photographs of students, display student work, and take videos to help everyone be aware of what is going on in the classroom.
Providing this space also allows parents to contact the teacher in a neutral platform.
For ELLs and their parents, a website is great because there are so many website translators that will allow the families to access all of the information posted, as opposed to a newsletter that may have to be translated (which can be difficult, depending on the language). Parents who speak little English may feel more comfortable communicating with the teacher through a website or e-mail when they have access to translating tools, rather than in face-to-face or (even more daunting) phone conversation.
Additionally, teachers may choose to add resources that parents and students may access at home. These resources can range from fun educational websites to information on the common core.
Also, making a website is fun. It's creative and personal. It's free. Teachers can (with parental permission) use photographs of students, display student work, and take videos to help everyone be aware of what is going on in the classroom.
Providing this space also allows parents to contact the teacher in a neutral platform.
For ELLs and their parents, a website is great because there are so many website translators that will allow the families to access all of the information posted, as opposed to a newsletter that may have to be translated (which can be difficult, depending on the language). Parents who speak little English may feel more comfortable communicating with the teacher through a website or e-mail when they have access to translating tools, rather than in face-to-face or (even more daunting) phone conversation.
(You can check out my website prototype here)
I agree with the important uses websites can have in education! My blog this week was regarding the podcast we completed in class and adding that feature to the class website. I did make a note that I think a video would be a more personal approach to adding information to a class website. Depending on the purpose, it can be a more engaging way to relay information for both parents and students!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Katie, that the best way to openly begin communicating with the families of students that we teach is to create (and maintain) a website that contains sections for each student that can only be accessed by the parents and teacher themselves. It is mandatory that that the parents in each family be involved with the lives of their children at school. I would like to try making my own website once I have my own classroom because on the kind of website I idealize making for my students, I would place both the students homework along with Microsoft Word file containing a weekly syllabus that shows the work the students must complete within my class. In addition to this, I would also have a page of links to YouTube videos as well. All of these things acting together would help support the learning that students do at home as well as create a cycle of trust between myself and the parents.
ReplyDeleteI totally think that the home-school connection is important for the students and their families, and that websites can help with that! I would also like to maintain a website once I have a classroom. It can ease stress for students and their families (I was always the student double-checking that I hadn't missed any homework assignments... if they were posted online, I would have been so much more relaxed!) I love the idea of incorporating multi-media with videos, word documents, etc. Visuals can help ELLs and, at the same time, engage learners and appeal to multiple intelligences.
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