Ways to Start the Year Off Right

At the start of each new school year, every teacher gets a chance to make the right first impression. Teachers may focus quite a bit of energy on classroom management strategies or on planning the perfect first day activities. However, communication is probably the most important part of your teaching regime. If both parents and students know what to expect and are informed on classroom policies, you will find that the rest of the year will go a lot more smoothly. Here are some simple ways to make sure that your students, and you, get the most out of this school year.

Have Parents Write You a Letter

Get to know your students by asking their parents for information. Provide parents with an outline of the types of things that it would be beneficial for you to know about the students in your classroom, including their likes and dislikes, favorite subjects in school, academic strengths and challenges, and outside interests like sports and dance.

By asking parents for information about their children, you make things easier on yourself. You won’t have to learn through trial and error. For example, a mother might tell you that her son needs to move while he is working. Perhaps, you could give this child a ball to squeeze as he completes his work. Knowing this kind of basic information can make it easier on you and your students, and it is a good technique for immediately involving parents in the classroom.

Call Parents and Introduce Yourself

It's always a good idea to get to know your students' parents as soon as possible. One way to do this is by giving them a call. To start the conversation, tell them about something their child did well in class, or recount a funny anecdote. Give parents an opportunity to talk to you about anything that they think you should know. Remember to take notes after the conversation. There may be things you want to remember or questions you want to follow up on as the school year progresses.

Chat with Students on the First Day

On the first day of school, schedule some time to talk to your students about their lives outside of the classroom. You can ask them about their friends, their summer vacations, or their favorite sports. Make time every day to walk around and talk to students. Students will feel more connected to the learning environment if you give them a chance to talk about their personal experiences.

Write a Letter to Parents

Send home a note telling parents about your classroom and your background. Make sure to include information about your classroom rules and expectations, an overview of some of the topics that will be covered in class, and an explanation of how you will communicate with parents throughout the year. One of the most important things you want parents to know is how to reach you. Often, the easiest way to answer a quick question is using email. Give parents an email address they can use to communicate with you.

Set up a Classroom Blog

From the start, you should let parents know that you will provide ways for them to find out information about classroom curriculum, homework assignments, field trip information, and much more. By setting up a classroom blog you can give parents a way to find out information so that they don’t have to ask you or another parent if they have misplaced a note or letter.

By using a few simple communication techniques, you can make sure that you, students, and parents start the year off right.