How can we reassure parents that struggling with reading is not a reflection of their child's potential, but rather a natural part of the learning process?

Next week we are planning an hour with our families for our first and second grade students. We are part of the Leader in Me program and we have invited families to come in and view our Classroom Mission Statements and then create Family Mission Statements! We have set up social media picture spots in the building for families to pose by/at. What hashtag do you think would be fun to use? We are the Lemmer Leopards ;).

As we continue to build relationships with the parents, here is an example of an email I sent to everyone because, well, I made a mistake.

Good Tuesday afternoon everyone-

Remember that time you thought it was a Tuesday because the teacher said it was a Tuesday and you were expecting a Tuesday folder to come home on Tuesday because Tuesday is when the Tuesday folder comes home?

Well, the teacher knew it was a Tuesday and did not send the Tuesday folder home on Tuesday because there was a FAST test on Tuesday and the teacher who even sent an email home saying it was a Tuesday in the subject now has to apologize on a Tuesday for not sending the Tuesday folder home today which is a Tuesday because he forgot it was a Tuesday.

Tuesday word count: 18

Being able to joke during your mistakes helps ease the tension with the parents. It also opens up a closeness when there is effort to be vulnerable with your mistakes. In the grand scheme of things, it is not that big of a deal but it brings people together.

What are your favorite ways to engage with families around the holidays?

Big win for the Thanksgiving celebration! All the families were represented and we had a great time! I highly recommend these events!

This year my class is having a "family luncheon". The parents have volunteered to bring the food and we will share in a time of thanksgiving. During the time, I have the students and parents write on a little note care what they are thankful for. I take those notes and type them into a document and send it to the parents. This is a great way to get parents support and build community. What are some other ideas that you have used to build community?

Do you send home a weekly newsletter? What do you include in it?

Once a year our district partners with the local Great Start Family Coalition and we put on a Parent Academy - an evening where families can come to learn more about supporting their child/children at home to develop language and literacy skills. Local businesses provide supplies i.e. puppets, playdough, books etc. and parents rotate through interactive centers. In these centers they learn how to create reading spaces in their homes and so much more!
What are some effective ways to engage families in supporting their child’s literacy development at home?

I am setting up an Amazon wishlist for families to purchase items (optionally!) for our classroom. What are items I should include on that wishlist?

I have a parent who contacted me today and wants to help in the classroom, but I’m not sure how to have them help. Any suggestions?

How do you structure parent/teacher conferences?
Do students attend or lead the conference or do you just meet with caregivers?
What information do you share during the conference?

How do you manage difficult parents that seem to blame teachers for their child's behavior and absences?