Comments on: Reaching Out http://offthepath.edublogs.org/2007/07/09/reaching-out/ where imagination, discovery, and sharing are key Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:10:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Joe Salmon http://offthepath.edublogs.org/2007/07/09/reaching-out/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Joe Salmon Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:10:48 +0000 http://offthepath.edublogs.org/2007/07/09/reaching-out/#comment-11 Most of my parents work at least one job and sometimes more. Therefore, they are not available to come to the classroom. So, I have started communicating with them by e-mail. Many of their jobs have them located at a computer, so its easy for them to respond by e-mail. One student was having difficulty getting the homework assignments to his mother. I attached them to an e-mail and sent them. He was very surprised the first day that she had the assignments. When I do have parents visit, I make sure that they feel very comfortable in the classroom. Many of them have had negative experiences in schools and associate these feelings with school. It takes a couple of visits to have them warm up sometimes. I think we all know that having the parent partner with you is a very important part of the learning community. Most of my parents work at least one job and sometimes more. Therefore, they are not available to come to the classroom. So, I have started communicating with them by e-mail. Many of their jobs have them located at a computer, so its easy for them to respond by e-mail.

One student was having difficulty getting the homework assignments to his mother. I attached them to an e-mail and sent them. He was very surprised the first day that she had the assignments.

When I do have parents visit, I make sure that they feel very comfortable in the classroom. Many of them have had negative experiences in schools and associate these feelings with school. It takes a couple of visits to have them warm up sometimes.

I think we all know that having the parent partner with you is a very important part of the learning community.

]]> By: Kevin Spencer http://offthepath.edublogs.org/2007/07/09/reaching-out/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Kevin Spencer Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:38:26 +0000 http://offthepath.edublogs.org/2007/07/09/reaching-out/#comment-6 I have invited parents (with cool or interesting jobs) in to GIVE my spelling test to the kids. After the test the students ask them about their job. What it is about. Why they do it. What is the best/worst part of the job. I have kids bringing their parents business cards to me, begging to have their parent come in and be a "celebrity speller" for the week. It is one of my favorite things I do in my class. I have invited parents (with cool or interesting jobs) in to GIVE my spelling test to the kids.

After the test the students ask them about their job. What it is about. Why they do it. What is the best/worst part of the job.

I have kids bringing their parents business cards to me, begging to have their parent come in and be a “celebrity speller” for the week.

It is one of my favorite things I do in my class.

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