When a parent is actively involved with their child's education, it benefits all involved in one way or another. Communication is one of the top strategies for fostering the relationships that grow between a parent and the educators that work with their child. It is important to understand that when parents and teachers communicate, it provides an opportunity for the child to reach their maximum potential both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. This is because of the fact that when regular communication is engaged in, a relationship will form. This relationship will assist the child in realizing that they have a solid support system that is working together for their benefit. Children who know that their parents and teachers communicate often have been found to perform better academically. They have also been found to exhibit more appropriate behavior in the classroom setting. It has also been established that children who have a parent that communicates with their teacher regularly have a better understanding of consequence as it relates to their academic performance and their behavior.
Parents have an important role when it comes to their child's academic success. It has been established that the parent is the top educator in their child's life. It has also been established that the parent is the prime role model for their child. While teachers are important as well, the child will benefit more if there is a collaboration that involves regular communication. Teachers have the capability to express the skills and the concepts that are being introduced in the classroom so that parents may reinforce them at home through an assortment of learning activities. The teacher has the ability to offer productive suggestions on learning tools and even exercises that may be performed at home in order to optimize the child's learning experience. I will communicate with my families and send home student work, grades, and assessments so that parents are aware. This will help parents continue and extend learning at home.
While teachers are experts in teaching, parents are experts on their children. There’s plenty of evidence that shows positive communication between parents and teachers helps improve academic performance. Parent-teacher interviews are a great opportunity to communicate with your child’s teacher and hear how your child is tracking academically and socially relative to their classmates. However, they are also a great way to discuss any troubles or questions you may have regarding your child. The families and communities I work in and with drive my instruction. The reason for this is because I plan based on the families I am working with and the community I am working in. With that being said this drives my curriciulum and the units I will be teaching. As an educator, it is my goal to make sure that all students feel included and valued in additonal to feeling possitive about their identity.
The community
The elementary and middle school is located in one building on 45th and 2nd. The building has been newly renovated and is very clean. It is extremely close to the United Nations. The school is located in the Tudor City area and is close to Franklin D Roosevelt Drive. The school is also very close to the East River as well as the midtown tunnel. The school is a short walk away from Grand Central Station. There is a subway near by which is located on 51st and Lexington Avenue. This subway station offers many different train lines. There are also several buses that run to and from this area as well. Students who attend this school pay 50,000 dollars a year for elementary school. Some students get insurance to cover part of the tuition. The student population is mainly boys. The socio-economic status of the students and the school is very high; the families are very wealthy. The families are very involved in the students learning. Each student in the school has a communication folder in which parents and teachers can send notes back and forth to each other daily. Teachers and parents email daily and are in constant contact.
The families
Aaron School families are extremely involved in their student’s academic life. The parents are supportive and hard working to make sure that the children are receiving the best education possible. There is a Parent Teacher Association, which positively affects the schools environment. The PTA is extremely hard working and dedicated. They are actively involved in the school and provide amazing in school activities for students. They just hosted a book fair where all students had time to go to and make a wish list for their parents. They provide the staff with a catered in breakfast on the first Wednesday of every month. Members of the PTA are always at the school and are always organizing in school and out of school events to bring the school and community even closer. They also work together with the school to provide professional development for the teachers.
Ways to Connect Teachers and Families
-shutterfly picture website= update a shutterfly account with pictures from the different units, topics, seasons, and anything going on in the classroom so parents are aware and can see whats going on
-newsletter= send home a monthly news letter about what you have been working on in the classroom, whats coming up next, any follow up activities, and include pictures
-email= create a group email for the class to send out any information and email parents as often as possible to update them on their child, make sure parents feel comfortable to email whenever they want
-suggested links= provide parents with suggest links with educational games, activities, videos, and learning resources for them to continue and extend learning at home
-curriculum night= host a curriculum night in the beginning of the year so that the parents are aware of what is going to take place and how to be involved in their childs learning
-suggested books based on ability level= provide a list of books for each reading level in the grade so parents know what books are appropriate as the year goes on and children move up in reading levels
-portfolio for each student= collect work in all different subject areas and developmental domains from the beginning of the school year to the end
-parent teacher conferences= meet with parents in the beginning of the year, mid year, and end of the year to discuss students academics, behavior, work, and any questions or concerns
-parent teacher interviews in the beginning of the year= get to know parents and families in the beginning of the year so the year runs smoothly, parents and teachers are on the same page, expectations are clear, warm and welcoming environment
-inform parents of daily schedule= make sure parents are aware of the daily schedule so they know where their child is incase of an emergency and so that parents know how to dress their children daily
Ways For Dealing With Communities of Diverse Linguistic and Social Backgrounds
-invite parents to come into the classroom
-translator
-provide parents with information in their language
-provide parents with places to go to learn
-provide families with activities
-welcome diversity into the room
-VIP day
-create a welcoming classroom
Technology Based Resources for Families
www.brainpop.com
www.brainpopjr.com
www.gonoodle.com
www.mathaids.com
www.kidsite.com
www.kidshealth.org
www.pbskids.com
www.readinga-z.com
www.superteacherworksheets.com
www.teacherspayteachers.com
Helpful Places To Visit Based On The Curriculum
Bowery Culinary Center is located at 95 E Houston St, 2nd Fl New York, NY 10002. The phone number is (212) 420-1320. The Bowery Culinary Center is located inside Whole Foods on the second floor behind all the beauty products. The Bowery Culinary Center offers cooking classes. RSVPs are on Eventbrite and there are no tickets handed out. Just show up if you are on the list and they will check you off when you sign in. Seating is counter style. The best seats are up front. If you are seated in the back you are still able to see because they have TV screens with cameras positioned so you can watch them cook. This is actually a better view since it is difficult to see what food is in the bowls, etc. The classes do their best to incorporate the sale items on the weekly circular. Meals also are centered based on specific times of the year. There are both free classes and classes you can pay for. The lengths of the classes vary from one hour to three hours.
Shape Up NYC offers free fitness classes every week at dozens of locations throughout the five boroughs. The classes are taught by expert fitness instructions who know how to make fitness fun. Class offerings are varied and include aerobics, yoga, pilates, and zumba. This program is completely free and people do not need to be members of a recreation center in order to attend a class. People attending classes must bring a lock for classes to be held at the center. You can search classes on the website by borough to find dates and times of classes offered. There is additional information about Shape UP NYC and how to sign up to receive regular fitness updates on their website, http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/recreation/shape-up-nyc.
NY Public Library is located at 455 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. At this library there are endless resources for families to use to help stress the importance of reading, learning, and academics. There are books, computers, magazines and people to help give people information about academic subject areas. These resources are available seven days a week. Children and families can learn together or separately. There are resources that children can use alone and resources that children can use with their families. There are also movies and tapes that can be taken out. Families can take out resources for free to help learn about specific topics. The library also offers free health and wellness yoga classes in their community room. This is a class for adults. The library also offers reading challenges for children over the summer. People can sign up for these classes online or in the library.
Fire Department and Police Department Walking Tours are offered in New York City. While in New York City, visit the store at 17 Greenwich Avenue and tour some of NYC's most famous Firehouses by taking a suggested Walking Tours. There is a walking tour offered from NYC’s original fire store past some of NYC’s most famous firehouses to ground zero. There is also a NYC firehouse near time square. At these locations families can learn about the fire department and police department. People can learn about the jobs and procedures people go through in case of emergencies. People can interact and learn from people around the different locations. These are places where people can learn about safety. There is also a free open house that if offered on specific days at different fire departments. There is additional information on the website, http://www.nyfirestore.com/walking-tours. The website also offers visiting members of service, and EMS & EMT.
My Kids Club is a place that offers kids fitness and cooking classes. The NY Kids Club offers coordination & movement classes for infants and toddlers 2 months to 2 years of age which transition directly into our recreational gymnastics, sports, karate, and rock climbing programs for children 3 through 12 years old. They also offer a cooking class where children get the chance to cook and prepare foods. This class is a wonderful way to expand a child’s independence and view of the world. The hands-on cooking classes for children ages 2 – 10 years old focus on developing practical, independent kitchen skills, kitchen safety and table etiquette. Students will learn about a healthy diet and creative culinary expression as they are introduced to new foods, cultures and cooking techniques. These classes are not free. You need to sign up online or at a location to find out the price of the classes. There are several different locations throughout New York City. There is additional information on their website, http://www.nykidsclub.com/Kids-Classes-NYC/Kids-Fitness-Classes-NYC/Upper-West-Side-89th-91st-Street.
The New York City Fire Museum is a museum with many exhibitions. They offer a program for students. The entire program takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The Museum provides organized tours Mondays through Fridays at 10:30AM, 11:30AM and 12:30PM for groups consisting of a minimum of 10 individuals and a maximum of 35 individuals, including both children and adults, per time slot. The cost is $3 per child and $5 per adult. For every 10 children, one adult is admitted free. Advance reservations are needed. In each room there are various fire and burn hazards are black-lit and the firefighter spends time explaining how each can cause a fire and what can be done to prevent it. When the group reaches the bedroom, the firefighter closes the door to continue his/her discussion. Simultaneously, the firefighter's assistant fills the rest of the apartment with theatrical smoke. A smoke alarm sounds and the firefighter teaches the children how to escape, and then helps them practice. When the fire safety portion of the program is complete, the children are given a historical tour of the Museum's first floor, "The Evolution of Firefighting," by a retired New York City firefighter. The entire museum stresses the importance of fire safety education and is designed to teach how to prevent fires and what to do to stay safe if a fire occurs. There is additional information on their website about classes and what the museum has to offer, http://www.nycfiremuseum.org/education.cfm.
Parents have an important role when it comes to their child's academic success. It has been established that the parent is the top educator in their child's life. It has also been established that the parent is the prime role model for their child. While teachers are important as well, the child will benefit more if there is a collaboration that involves regular communication. Teachers have the capability to express the skills and the concepts that are being introduced in the classroom so that parents may reinforce them at home through an assortment of learning activities. The teacher has the ability to offer productive suggestions on learning tools and even exercises that may be performed at home in order to optimize the child's learning experience. I will communicate with my families and send home student work, grades, and assessments so that parents are aware. This will help parents continue and extend learning at home.
While teachers are experts in teaching, parents are experts on their children. There’s plenty of evidence that shows positive communication between parents and teachers helps improve academic performance. Parent-teacher interviews are a great opportunity to communicate with your child’s teacher and hear how your child is tracking academically and socially relative to their classmates. However, they are also a great way to discuss any troubles or questions you may have regarding your child. The families and communities I work in and with drive my instruction. The reason for this is because I plan based on the families I am working with and the community I am working in. With that being said this drives my curriciulum and the units I will be teaching. As an educator, it is my goal to make sure that all students feel included and valued in additonal to feeling possitive about their identity.
The community
The elementary and middle school is located in one building on 45th and 2nd. The building has been newly renovated and is very clean. It is extremely close to the United Nations. The school is located in the Tudor City area and is close to Franklin D Roosevelt Drive. The school is also very close to the East River as well as the midtown tunnel. The school is a short walk away from Grand Central Station. There is a subway near by which is located on 51st and Lexington Avenue. This subway station offers many different train lines. There are also several buses that run to and from this area as well. Students who attend this school pay 50,000 dollars a year for elementary school. Some students get insurance to cover part of the tuition. The student population is mainly boys. The socio-economic status of the students and the school is very high; the families are very wealthy. The families are very involved in the students learning. Each student in the school has a communication folder in which parents and teachers can send notes back and forth to each other daily. Teachers and parents email daily and are in constant contact.
The families
Aaron School families are extremely involved in their student’s academic life. The parents are supportive and hard working to make sure that the children are receiving the best education possible. There is a Parent Teacher Association, which positively affects the schools environment. The PTA is extremely hard working and dedicated. They are actively involved in the school and provide amazing in school activities for students. They just hosted a book fair where all students had time to go to and make a wish list for their parents. They provide the staff with a catered in breakfast on the first Wednesday of every month. Members of the PTA are always at the school and are always organizing in school and out of school events to bring the school and community even closer. They also work together with the school to provide professional development for the teachers.
Ways to Connect Teachers and Families
-shutterfly picture website= update a shutterfly account with pictures from the different units, topics, seasons, and anything going on in the classroom so parents are aware and can see whats going on
-newsletter= send home a monthly news letter about what you have been working on in the classroom, whats coming up next, any follow up activities, and include pictures
-email= create a group email for the class to send out any information and email parents as often as possible to update them on their child, make sure parents feel comfortable to email whenever they want
-suggested links= provide parents with suggest links with educational games, activities, videos, and learning resources for them to continue and extend learning at home
-curriculum night= host a curriculum night in the beginning of the year so that the parents are aware of what is going to take place and how to be involved in their childs learning
-suggested books based on ability level= provide a list of books for each reading level in the grade so parents know what books are appropriate as the year goes on and children move up in reading levels
-portfolio for each student= collect work in all different subject areas and developmental domains from the beginning of the school year to the end
-parent teacher conferences= meet with parents in the beginning of the year, mid year, and end of the year to discuss students academics, behavior, work, and any questions or concerns
-parent teacher interviews in the beginning of the year= get to know parents and families in the beginning of the year so the year runs smoothly, parents and teachers are on the same page, expectations are clear, warm and welcoming environment
-inform parents of daily schedule= make sure parents are aware of the daily schedule so they know where their child is incase of an emergency and so that parents know how to dress their children daily
Ways For Dealing With Communities of Diverse Linguistic and Social Backgrounds
-invite parents to come into the classroom
-translator
-provide parents with information in their language
-provide parents with places to go to learn
-provide families with activities
-welcome diversity into the room
-VIP day
-create a welcoming classroom
Technology Based Resources for Families
www.brainpop.com
www.brainpopjr.com
www.gonoodle.com
www.mathaids.com
www.kidsite.com
www.kidshealth.org
www.pbskids.com
www.readinga-z.com
www.superteacherworksheets.com
www.teacherspayteachers.com
Helpful Places To Visit Based On The Curriculum
Bowery Culinary Center is located at 95 E Houston St, 2nd Fl New York, NY 10002. The phone number is (212) 420-1320. The Bowery Culinary Center is located inside Whole Foods on the second floor behind all the beauty products. The Bowery Culinary Center offers cooking classes. RSVPs are on Eventbrite and there are no tickets handed out. Just show up if you are on the list and they will check you off when you sign in. Seating is counter style. The best seats are up front. If you are seated in the back you are still able to see because they have TV screens with cameras positioned so you can watch them cook. This is actually a better view since it is difficult to see what food is in the bowls, etc. The classes do their best to incorporate the sale items on the weekly circular. Meals also are centered based on specific times of the year. There are both free classes and classes you can pay for. The lengths of the classes vary from one hour to three hours.
Shape Up NYC offers free fitness classes every week at dozens of locations throughout the five boroughs. The classes are taught by expert fitness instructions who know how to make fitness fun. Class offerings are varied and include aerobics, yoga, pilates, and zumba. This program is completely free and people do not need to be members of a recreation center in order to attend a class. People attending classes must bring a lock for classes to be held at the center. You can search classes on the website by borough to find dates and times of classes offered. There is additional information about Shape UP NYC and how to sign up to receive regular fitness updates on their website, http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/recreation/shape-up-nyc.
NY Public Library is located at 455 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. At this library there are endless resources for families to use to help stress the importance of reading, learning, and academics. There are books, computers, magazines and people to help give people information about academic subject areas. These resources are available seven days a week. Children and families can learn together or separately. There are resources that children can use alone and resources that children can use with their families. There are also movies and tapes that can be taken out. Families can take out resources for free to help learn about specific topics. The library also offers free health and wellness yoga classes in their community room. This is a class for adults. The library also offers reading challenges for children over the summer. People can sign up for these classes online or in the library.
Fire Department and Police Department Walking Tours are offered in New York City. While in New York City, visit the store at 17 Greenwich Avenue and tour some of NYC's most famous Firehouses by taking a suggested Walking Tours. There is a walking tour offered from NYC’s original fire store past some of NYC’s most famous firehouses to ground zero. There is also a NYC firehouse near time square. At these locations families can learn about the fire department and police department. People can learn about the jobs and procedures people go through in case of emergencies. People can interact and learn from people around the different locations. These are places where people can learn about safety. There is also a free open house that if offered on specific days at different fire departments. There is additional information on the website, http://www.nyfirestore.com/walking-tours. The website also offers visiting members of service, and EMS & EMT.
My Kids Club is a place that offers kids fitness and cooking classes. The NY Kids Club offers coordination & movement classes for infants and toddlers 2 months to 2 years of age which transition directly into our recreational gymnastics, sports, karate, and rock climbing programs for children 3 through 12 years old. They also offer a cooking class where children get the chance to cook and prepare foods. This class is a wonderful way to expand a child’s independence and view of the world. The hands-on cooking classes for children ages 2 – 10 years old focus on developing practical, independent kitchen skills, kitchen safety and table etiquette. Students will learn about a healthy diet and creative culinary expression as they are introduced to new foods, cultures and cooking techniques. These classes are not free. You need to sign up online or at a location to find out the price of the classes. There are several different locations throughout New York City. There is additional information on their website, http://www.nykidsclub.com/Kids-Classes-NYC/Kids-Fitness-Classes-NYC/Upper-West-Side-89th-91st-Street.
The New York City Fire Museum is a museum with many exhibitions. They offer a program for students. The entire program takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The Museum provides organized tours Mondays through Fridays at 10:30AM, 11:30AM and 12:30PM for groups consisting of a minimum of 10 individuals and a maximum of 35 individuals, including both children and adults, per time slot. The cost is $3 per child and $5 per adult. For every 10 children, one adult is admitted free. Advance reservations are needed. In each room there are various fire and burn hazards are black-lit and the firefighter spends time explaining how each can cause a fire and what can be done to prevent it. When the group reaches the bedroom, the firefighter closes the door to continue his/her discussion. Simultaneously, the firefighter's assistant fills the rest of the apartment with theatrical smoke. A smoke alarm sounds and the firefighter teaches the children how to escape, and then helps them practice. When the fire safety portion of the program is complete, the children are given a historical tour of the Museum's first floor, "The Evolution of Firefighting," by a retired New York City firefighter. The entire museum stresses the importance of fire safety education and is designed to teach how to prevent fires and what to do to stay safe if a fire occurs. There is additional information on their website about classes and what the museum has to offer, http://www.nycfiremuseum.org/education.cfm.