Scenario:
One of your main goals as a first-year preschool teacher is to keep the lines of communication open with parents in several different ways. One of the methods you find to be effective is to have brief check-ins during drop-off in the morning and/or pick-up after school. However, you soon realize that some parents are not available during these times. You watch the video Parent–Teacher Communication: Two Informal Methods of Communication and are struck by the way the teacher in the video stays in touch by sending text messages to parents and calling them on the phone. You decide to begin the first open house of the year by outlining the benefits of frequent informal communication between home and school, drawing from the advice of the teacher in the video. Next, you describe in detail the specific communication options you would like to promote with families throughout the school year as part of building a strong partnership (e.g., text messages). Last, create an agenda item that invites families to give feedback on the benefits of frequent communication and the styles that would fit best with their daily routines (e.g., right after school).

Focus Assignment

1. Create an agenda to outline the topics you plan to discuss at the first open house of the school year. For item 1, include three to four key points to summarize the benefits of frequent informal communication between home and school. Next, for item 2, write three to four specific informal communication options you would like families to engage in with you. Last, for item 3, add a few sentences inviting families to offer their views on the benefits of daily communication and the styles that would work best for them (e.g., e-mail updates).

Self-Evaluation

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

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