Teaching Tip: Quick and Easy Parent Communication

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Postcards — An Alternative Way to Communicate with Parents
At times, getting a hold of my students' parents becomes quite challenging. My phone calls go unanswered. Any correspondence I send in the mail gets returned. Notes that are sent home with Junior do not make it into the hands of his mom or dad. This is why I recommend sending postcards. Most major bookstore chains have free postcards available near the exit doors. Here are some advantages for using postcards as a way to communicate with parents.

 

• Postage for postcards costs less than that of standard postage.
  
• Simply writing "need to speak to you at your earliest convenience" can do the trick.
  
• Messages as simple as this can be easily translated for non-English speaking parents.
  
• Postcards are also a great way to tell parents what is happening in your class.
  
• Most office software has a mail merge system that you can use with postcards.
  
• Reminding both students and parents that "research papers are due on the 29th" can increase the number of completed assignments.
  
• My favorite postcards to send home are the ones informing parents that their student has accomplished something in class. Messages such as "I'm so happy Isabella earned an A on her essay!" can make the whole family proud.
  
• Postcards are easy for parents to place on the fridge to use as reminders for those important meetings and school events.

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LESSON PLAN

Literature Analysis Students will discuss literature with their peers, identifying the character, plot, and setting of the book and analyzing them.