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Keeping Parents in the Learning Loop

 Parent engagement in their student's education is an essential part of a student's success. As a classroom teacher, I implement a number of way's to keep families engaged in their student's learning.

Keeping my lesson plans that auto-populate into the FACTS family portal is the simplest way to keep families engaged in learning. If parents can access information on what we did in class on any given day, as well as what may have been assigned as homework, parents are immediately armed with real-time information. This knowledge can be extremely powerful in any number of circumstances. If a student has been out, if a student has trouble remembering and communicating important assignment details, or if a parent simply wants to plan ahead, having accurate lesson plans instantly accessible can be an extremely valuable tool to support the engaged parent.


Additionally, I lean heavily on a tool provided by our school behavioral system. Each student keeps a 'foot' on their desk and collect a series of red marks for good choices and occasional black marks representing poor choices. Upper elementary feet come with lines to fill in for each subject. Using these lines, I teach the students to write in important information when it applies to a particular subject. For example, after review in class for a science test, I will have the student write on their 'foot' under science: test tomorrow, study p. 102-103, 104. These feet are sent home every day, and are to be signed by a parent and returned. Using this tool has been extremely useful in giving parents quick information as to upcoming tests, as well as helping the students practice managing their own study habits. 


Other tools I use successfully are reminder emails for parents, encouraged use of IXL at home for math practice paired with regular maintenance of the teacher recommended skills through the IXL interface, occasional at-home projects to support learning, and open communication. Parents know they can reach out with questions and that those questions will be heard and answered. 



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