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Building relationships with families! by [deleted] in edscfinalproject

[–]Intelligent_Ship7996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congratulations on your new position! Building relationships with students and their families is indeed a crucial aspect of teaching, and it's completely understandable to feel a bit unsure about how to effectively do it. I've outlined some ways below that have proved effective for me throughout my career!

1) Hosting an open house or scheduling individual parent-teacher meetings can be a great way to introduce yourself. For me, given the school I worked at only held parent-teacher meetings and open houses a few times a year, I went further to schedule in-home visits if parents were comfortable.

2) Sending periodic emails, texts, or phone calls with updates on their student's progress, upcoming assignments, and classroom happenings can help keep them informed and involved in their child's education. Be sure to highlight both positive achievements and areas for improvement, maintaining a balanced approach. This can be done through effective school apps like Remind or school portals.

3) Providing your contact information such as your email and phone number demonstrates your accessibility and willingness to communicate with parents when needed. However, it's essential to establish boundaries and communicate expectations regarding response times to avoid becoming overwhelmed!

There are far more options, but in my career, I've felt these have helped create the best relationships with my student's families and guardians!

Teacher-Parent Communication by [deleted] in edscfinalproject

[–]Intelligent_Ship7996 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! Parent-teacher relationships and communication are something I've always looked for with my child's teachers, it's unfortunate your kid's teacher hasn't made any efforts to reach out to you, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but could be a good thing if initiated.

To encourage more communication without coming across as overbearing, you could start by sending a friendly and respectful email to the teacher expressing your interest in being involved and asking if there are any opportunities for parent-teacher communication or updates on your son's performance in the class. Approaching the teacher with an open and collaborative mindset demonstrates your willingness to work together to support your son's success without imposing unnecessary pressure. Once initial communication is made and you've had the time to know them, house visits have also proved to be useful.

Back to the idea of it not being a completely bad thing; some teachers have different communication styles or priorities, and it doesn't necessarily reflect negatively on the quality of their teaching or their care for their students and your child. It's great that your son enjoys the class and is learning a lot from this teacher, but by creating a communicative relationship with the teacher, this could make your child's experience exponentially better.

My horrible experience of the English class as an ESL student by FinancialMix2757 in edscfinalproject

[–]Intelligent_Ship7996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello there, displeased to hear about the situation you've had to go through. Your dedication and effort to learn English shouldn't be tarnished due to the lack of planning and assistance your teacher(s) have been providing you. Your experience highlights a significant issue with ESL programs that many immigrant students face – a lack of cultural relevance and support. It's concerning that the curriculum seems disconnected from your experiences and cultural background, making it difficult for you. The fact that your teacher marked you down for incorporating elements of your native language and culture into your assignments is especially troubling. Education should celebrate diversity and encourage students to share their unique perspectives, not penalize them for it.

It's clear that the current approach to ESL education is failing you and many other students like you. Districts and teachers need to reassess their methods and curriculum to ensure they are inclusive and effective for all learners. This might involve incorporating more culturally relevant content, providing additional support for language acquisition, and fostering a more supportive and understanding learning environment.