Parent Resources Explaining the Common Core Standards - One Teacher’s New Year’s Resolution! by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist Happy New Year everyone! Like many teachers, I make personnel and professional resolutions each year. I try to keep them to a minimum and make them realistic. This year my professional resolution is to create and continue a
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Idea by Nancy, 2nd Grade Teacher, Ashville, AL As an exceptional education teacher, I encourage my students and parents to designate a special basket or container at home just for school things.

  by Stephanie Moorman, Guest Blogger One of the hardest, yet most important parts of our job as teachers is communicating with parents. Each day, the pride and joy of each of their lives walks through our doors, so it is only natural that we keep parents in the loop as far as school is
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  By Barbara Spalding, Guest Blogger As parents, we hold a tremendous power; a great educational influence that most of us don’t truly tap into. Our children are eager to learn, curious to explore and excited to discover new things. Perhaps the grunts through homework or the emphatic plea not to chaperone the school dance
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  By Tabitha Panariso, Guest Blogger Remember that old game of ‘telephone’? The point was to see how accurate a sentence could remain as it passed from person to person. Sitting around in a circle with your friends, you watched as one whispered a short sentence into another’s ear. No matter how hard the group
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  by Lorraine Vasquez, Guest Blogger To be successful teachers must have good communication skills, not only with their co-workers, administration, and students but with parents as well. One of the first things I learned when I became a teacher is the importance of Parent – Teacher Communication. I have found that when parents and
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Idea by Janet, 2nd Grade Teacher, Tyler, TX Positive communication is the key to keeping parents involved and children motivated. Here are a few ideas I have found to be successful: For Open House and Meet the Teacher Night I always set out a supply of cute stationery and a note (for parents’ eyes only)
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Idea by Melanie, 1st Grade Teacher, Sandusky, MI This low-tech idea is a lifesaver—especially if you’re new to teaching. Record valuable parent/student contact information on individual 4” x 6” index cards and keep them stored in alphabetical order in a recipe box. Use the flip side of each card to keep track of phone calls
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Make families feel welcome with this idea by Erica, a 2nd Grade Teacher, for the Armed Forces. Since I teach military children who tend to relocate often, it is especially important that I get to know each parent personally.

Get everything you need for your class with this idea by Connie, a 3rd-4th Grade Teacher, from Wilmington, NC. For Meet-the-Teacher Night, I put up a Helping Hand bulletin board that highlights items or services I need for the classroom.  I cut out small paper hands and glue them to index cards and write the
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