To create an informational pamphlet to give to families to encourage them to become an integral part of classroom life and to evaluate your pamphlet.

Scenario:
You are a first-year teacher in a preschool that aims to strengthen parent–teacher relationships. Drawing on your student teaching experience, you realize the importance of involving families in the daily lives of their children before the school year even begins. You also realize the importance of letting parents know that they have a place in your classroom. You watch the video What Parents Want to Know About Their Children and are inspired to create an informational pamphlet to give to families two weeks before the school year begins. You begin with an overview of what parents can expect at parent–teacher conferences. You also want to outline classroom routines for them, particularly those involving children’s individual home–school folders, which are an integral part of your communication strategy. Last, in the interest of welcoming parents to interact with their children, as well as other children and parents in your classroom, you include an invitation to several fall events.

Focus Assignment

1. Design a pamphlet for families that includes three major topics you plan to discuss with them at the first parent–teacher conference. Next, add three to four sentences to introduce parents to your home–school folder policy, how it works, and their responsibilities as partners. Finally, include a paragraph that encourages parents to participate in three to four events in the fall. Be sure to present all information in a warm, supportive manner that will help parents understand your goal of creating partnerships with them.

2. Be sure to read the SELF-EVALUATION section below to guide your thinking. Write your self-evaluation after you have completed your informational pamphlet.

Self-Evaluation

1. For each item in your informational pamphlet:
     a. Explain how this item addresses the issues in the scenario.
    

2. Describe and justify how your informational pamphlet would improve teaching and learning in the scenario.