Okay...
I think that what I really want to know is if I use positive communication with parents regarding their child's education will it change the climate in my classroom. The climate would hopefully change to students becoming more interested and excited about what is happening in the classroom and their learning. The communication would sound something like this, "I want to let you know that today your child shared their writing with the class because it contained great details. I believe that he/she is making tremendous growth in their writing and I am looking forward to reading more from their writer's notebook." The day that I make this phone call, I will also send a certificate home with the student also noting their accomplishment. I would be sure that all students are included in this process even if it is something small with their behavior. This could sound like, "I wanted to tell you that today Joe was able to get along with his peers at his table. I know that he has been working hard in this area and I think he did great today!"
Possibly then, I want to know if this kind of communication is implemented in my classroom if the students will become more excited about the classroom and also if the parents would be more open to communication from the school.
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Hi Kari!
Last year, our team at school started giving "Cracker Jack" awards to our students. The idea behind the Cracker Jack is to "celebrate the prize in every child". We have found that this was a tremendous motivator for our students. The awards are not academic or behaviorally based- they are oriented toward how we have gotten to know the student and his/her likes, dislikes, and personality. For example, one kiddo received the "perfect ponytail" award. Other examples are the "Brutus Buckeye" award for a big Ohio State fan, the "What if?" award for a student who always asks questions, and the "Project Runway" award for a kid who was very fashion conscious. The kids get a certificate and a little bag of cracker jacks.
We found that the kids (yes, 7th graders!) shared their awards with their parents and were really proud of them. We started it as a fun, teambuilding activity, but found that it really means a lot to the kids. Parents frequently asked us about the cracker jacks at conferences or through e-mail, and it turned out to be a way to informally communicate with parents.
Just thought I'd toss it out there... good luck with your project!
~Veronica
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