Here is a link to my Flat Stanley Newsletter using www.letterpop.com
http://www.letterpop.com/builder.php?newsletter_id=83906
Why is communication important between teachers and parents?
Communication is essential because parents should be the biggest advocate for their child’s education. Through communication, both parties will be able to share their ideas, feelings, concerns, suggestions, opinions and concerns about the child’s education. Parents and teachers need to share the same view or compromise to fulfill all expectations from parent to teacher, teacher to parent, and teacher & parent to child. Parents are able to contribute important information about how their child, how they learn best, and extending the learning at home.
In what way will you communicate with your students’ parents?
The most effective and efficient way to communicate with parents would be to send out letters or newsletters and phoning them. Since, not all students will have access to a computer or internet—this may not be an ideal way as of the moment. However, in the future I’d like to put up a blog for my class; it will consist of information about daily activities in class and school, class rules, consequences, rewards, homework’s for students who missed class or simply for parents to be aware of homework assigned, online grade book for students and parents to access, and pictures to show students working in action.
Selected students will be given an opportunity to write to the weekly newsletter; teacher will provide the topics. Students will have the week to work on their article about class and school activities, what happened in class during the week and what they accomplished for the week. Publication or newsletters will be every Friday; however, may be tentative depending on the flow of class activities and time.
What new communication software applications would be fun to try to communicate with parents?
I like the uses of Blogger, PB Wiki, Google Docs and Web 2.0 software as a means of new communication software applications that would be fun to try to communicate with parents. Blogger, would be a good software since they can comment on the post to share their insights, opinions, suggestions and comments. PBWiki, gives the parents a chance to edit the page—if directions permit, to share their insights, opinions, suggestions and comments. Google Docs, is an interactive software which can also be used to share information and communicate with parents. Both parties can leave messages, edit information, communicate live if both are online and etc.
What software did you use, why did you choose to use it?
I chose to use www.letterpop.com to create my newsletter for my Flat Stanley Project. When I came across the website, it caught my attention instantly. Not only does it make newsletters, but invitations, fliers, cards and so much more… I found it easy to use. I learned more about using letterpop by practicing creating some activities with different styles and themes.
What would you differently if you did a class newsletter again?
If I would work on a class newsletter again, I would like to look for more software’s to design and develop a newsletter. Next time, I would have my students contribute to my newsletter to help practice writing skills, learning the importance of sharing credible and correct information or statements, this will also help stimulate students learning environment to put themselves in shoes of newspaper reports and they will be able to use their technological skills when creating a newsletter using software from online sources.
