Communication Plan
Communication with stakeholders is an absolutely vital part of an effective management plan. Besides the students themselves, teachers are surrounded with people involved in their students’ education who can be powerful allies in developing student growth and learning. However, these resources will not be valuable, and can even be in opposition of the teacher, through negative communication or the lack of communication. Recognizing the importance of establishing and maintaining positive relationships with these stakeholders, I will use several pre-determined methods to stay positively connected with them.
Communicating with Students:
I will maintain positive, caring interactions with my students before, during, and after the time I have them in class.
o Three weeks before the school year begins, I will send my students a letter introducing myself and letting them know a little bit about the year ahead, as well as what I expect from them on the first day (See attached letter).
o If possible, I will meet students in person before school begins at either a pre-school open house held by the school or a pre-arranged home visit.
o At the beginning of the school year, I will clearly state my expectations for the class, and we will work together to come up with a clear social contract for the classroom (See Plan to Maintain Appropriate Behavior). I will post my norms and the social contract in the room so they are easily visible to students as reminders.
o I will clearly post the agenda and homework for the day in a specific place on the whiteboard (See Agenda for the Day procedure). I will post large assignments on the board and the class website several weeks before they are due.
o I will clearly explain classroom grading guidelines, and will give students clear rubrics for all major assignments. I will give students valuable feedback on all major assignments.
o I will create a classroom website which will include classroom procedures, the class social contract, grading guidelines, updates on students’ Classroom Currency accounts, and a section for students and parents to ask questions.
o I will tell students on the first day about my policy of mutual respect and that I will always be open to listening to them about anything. I will also have a Suggestion Box on my desk where students can leave comments or questions at any time.
o I will make it clear that I will be available in the classroom for help, questions, or to talk to half an hour before and after each school day unless otherwise announced.
Communicating with Parents:
I will do my best to keep parents informed and aware of what is going on in the classroom, and to involve them whenever possible/practical.
o I will send a letter out at the beginning of the year letting parents and students know what to expect and encouraging them to keep in contact throughout the year.
o If possible, I will meet parents before the year begins at either a pre-school open house arranged by the school or a pre-arranged home visit.
o I will create a classroom website which will include classroom procedures, the class social contract, grading guidelines, updates on students’ Classroom Currency accounts, and a section for students and parents to ask questions. I will also update this website with blog posts, keeping parents up-to-date on what is happening in the classroom. [To view a sample website similar to what mine will look like, click here.]
o I will request parent support and assistance for field trips and other big events by communicating through letters and emails.
o The class will host a Family Exhibition night in which parents and other family members can come to the school and see their students’ work first-hand.
o I will clearly communicate with parents through phone call or email when their student is struggling, either academically or behaviorally, and will try to work together with them to come up with a plan of action.
o I will communicate with parents through phone call or email when their student is doing a great job in the class.
o I will be a part of parent/teacher conferences each time the school offers them.
Communicating with Other Teachers in the Building:
I will develop positive relationships with other teachers in the building and use these relationships for my own growth as a teacher, as well as the constant development of the school’s atmosphere of learning.
o I will engage in a Professional Learning Community (PLC) with other teachers in my teaching team. We will use this PLC to inform each other of what is going on in our classrooms and bounce ideas off of each other to result in maximum learning by students in all classes.
o I will meet with the other fifth grade teachers at least once a week to discuss what is going on in our classrooms.
o I will work with teachers of other grade levels to help create smooth transitions in learning among the grades, and to encourage cross-grade level activities, such as mentoring.
Communicating with Administration/Board of Education:
I will develop and maintain positive relationships with the administration of my building and will be respectful of their authority over myself and my classroom.
o I will stay in communication about what is going on in my classroom and what is going on in the school through emails and staff meetings. I will be present and actively participate at each of these meetings.
o I will seek permission from administration before scheduling activities such as field trips or parent nights.
o I will seek permission from administration before implementing any procedures which may affect other classrooms or students in the building.
o I will respect any guidelines or deadlines the administration gives me.
o I will make sure administration and the Board of Education have access to my classroom’s website so they can keep up to date on what is happening in my classroom.
o I will invite administration and board members to attend special events in my classroom or to accompany us on field trips.
Communicating with the Community:
I will do my best to develop positive relationships with community members and get involved in the community around the school.
o I will create a class website which interested community members can access for information on what is happening in my class.
o I will invite community members to special events in the classroom.
o I will invite members of the community to get involved in the classroom by sharing experiences related to what we are learning in class.
o Our class will participate in at least one service event per semester to positively contribute to our community.
Communicating with Students:
I will maintain positive, caring interactions with my students before, during, and after the time I have them in class.
o Three weeks before the school year begins, I will send my students a letter introducing myself and letting them know a little bit about the year ahead, as well as what I expect from them on the first day (See attached letter).
o If possible, I will meet students in person before school begins at either a pre-school open house held by the school or a pre-arranged home visit.
o At the beginning of the school year, I will clearly state my expectations for the class, and we will work together to come up with a clear social contract for the classroom (See Plan to Maintain Appropriate Behavior). I will post my norms and the social contract in the room so they are easily visible to students as reminders.
o I will clearly post the agenda and homework for the day in a specific place on the whiteboard (See Agenda for the Day procedure). I will post large assignments on the board and the class website several weeks before they are due.
o I will clearly explain classroom grading guidelines, and will give students clear rubrics for all major assignments. I will give students valuable feedback on all major assignments.
o I will create a classroom website which will include classroom procedures, the class social contract, grading guidelines, updates on students’ Classroom Currency accounts, and a section for students and parents to ask questions.
o I will tell students on the first day about my policy of mutual respect and that I will always be open to listening to them about anything. I will also have a Suggestion Box on my desk where students can leave comments or questions at any time.
o I will make it clear that I will be available in the classroom for help, questions, or to talk to half an hour before and after each school day unless otherwise announced.
Communicating with Parents:
I will do my best to keep parents informed and aware of what is going on in the classroom, and to involve them whenever possible/practical.
o I will send a letter out at the beginning of the year letting parents and students know what to expect and encouraging them to keep in contact throughout the year.
o If possible, I will meet parents before the year begins at either a pre-school open house arranged by the school or a pre-arranged home visit.
o I will create a classroom website which will include classroom procedures, the class social contract, grading guidelines, updates on students’ Classroom Currency accounts, and a section for students and parents to ask questions. I will also update this website with blog posts, keeping parents up-to-date on what is happening in the classroom. [To view a sample website similar to what mine will look like, click here.]
o I will request parent support and assistance for field trips and other big events by communicating through letters and emails.
o The class will host a Family Exhibition night in which parents and other family members can come to the school and see their students’ work first-hand.
o I will clearly communicate with parents through phone call or email when their student is struggling, either academically or behaviorally, and will try to work together with them to come up with a plan of action.
o I will communicate with parents through phone call or email when their student is doing a great job in the class.
o I will be a part of parent/teacher conferences each time the school offers them.
Communicating with Other Teachers in the Building:
I will develop positive relationships with other teachers in the building and use these relationships for my own growth as a teacher, as well as the constant development of the school’s atmosphere of learning.
o I will engage in a Professional Learning Community (PLC) with other teachers in my teaching team. We will use this PLC to inform each other of what is going on in our classrooms and bounce ideas off of each other to result in maximum learning by students in all classes.
o I will meet with the other fifth grade teachers at least once a week to discuss what is going on in our classrooms.
o I will work with teachers of other grade levels to help create smooth transitions in learning among the grades, and to encourage cross-grade level activities, such as mentoring.
Communicating with Administration/Board of Education:
I will develop and maintain positive relationships with the administration of my building and will be respectful of their authority over myself and my classroom.
o I will stay in communication about what is going on in my classroom and what is going on in the school through emails and staff meetings. I will be present and actively participate at each of these meetings.
o I will seek permission from administration before scheduling activities such as field trips or parent nights.
o I will seek permission from administration before implementing any procedures which may affect other classrooms or students in the building.
o I will respect any guidelines or deadlines the administration gives me.
o I will make sure administration and the Board of Education have access to my classroom’s website so they can keep up to date on what is happening in my classroom.
o I will invite administration and board members to attend special events in my classroom or to accompany us on field trips.
Communicating with the Community:
I will do my best to develop positive relationships with community members and get involved in the community around the school.
o I will create a class website which interested community members can access for information on what is happening in my class.
o I will invite community members to special events in the classroom.
o I will invite members of the community to get involved in the classroom by sharing experiences related to what we are learning in class.
o Our class will participate in at least one service event per semester to positively contribute to our community.