To create an introductory letter to send to families before the beginning of the school year and to evaluate your letter.

Scenario:
As a first-year teacher, you are very interested in establishing strong relationships with your children and their families. You have been conducting research on home visiting programs and have approached your director about implementing such a program in your preschool. Your director thinks it is a good idea. As a first step toward preparing for a home visiting program, you write a letter to families to introduce yourself. Also offer a few highlights of your classroom routines, being sure to let parents know that you welcome their daily participation in their child’s schooling. Last, you decide to enclose something special for the child in your letter, such as a photograph of yourself.

Focus Assignment

1. Write an introductory letter to families that they can share with their children. Begin by writing two paragraphs to describe your background, why you became a teacher, and your beliefs as an educator. Then, add three to four sentences describing a few classroom routines that you hope parents will become an integral part of (e.g., reviewing their child’s home–school folder every night and adding their comments and questions). Next, write a brief description of what tangible article you will enclose in your family letter.

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

Self-Evaluation

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

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