{...creating a positive environment…}

Every year as a educator, my goal is to make my students feel warm and welcome as they walk into my classroom.  This sets our year up for success when we start to build trust in our partnership that will take place over the course of the year.

A few ways I make students and families feel comfortable in my room are:
1.  send home letters/post cards towards the end of summer
2.  have a back to school night/getting to know your teacher time before school starts
3.  make phone calls to each family within the first two weeks of school to introduce myself (if need be) and let them know how their student is being successful in the classroom
4.  send home notes through the mail throughout the year addressed to the student praising them and making them feel special about their hard work and accomplishments (I usually alternate and try to contact the family once a quarter.  Quarter 1 and 3 with phone calls and Quarters 2 and 4 through a quick note in the mail)

After visiting a former colleague this last week, I was motivated by her because she had started writing out her postcards to her future students.  Thanks Sara, for always keeping me on the ball and challenging me!  Here is a copy of my back to school letter.  Usually I send post cards, but since I moved to a new town, new school, I figured families would like to know a bit more about me and my family.

What strategies do you use to connect with students and families?  

Remind 101

This summer as I was looking for new ways to integrate technology into our daily Kindergarten life, I read about Remind 101.  This is a great tool to involve parents (and older students who have cell phones/email) with your classroom community.

Basically, you set up your account.  You can either use your computer email or cell phone app (use them both interchangeably) and send parents a note telling them about the app!

When you set up your account, you get a "number" for parents to text to.  Then, anytime, you can email/text parents reminders throughout the day/week/year!  The best part is, neither party has the others cell phone number!  So everyone still feels a sense of privacy.

I found this note that I printed off and sent in my "back to school" envelope to families.  I can't wait to use this piece of technology this year!!  Instead of writing notes for everyone, or using labels and putting them on students' shirts (which I will still probably do occasionally or if it is just for an individual student) I can just sent a quick text or hop on my email if there is a classroom party or music program, etc...!

Here is the letter I printed off for my parents!

How do you use technology to better your classroom?