The Write Stuff:
Plain English School-to-Home Communication
Planning
Planning
1. Who is your target audience?
1. Who is your target audience?
2. What do you want your reader to know?
2. What do you want your reader to know?
3. What do you want your reader to do?
3. What do you want your reader to do?
Drafting
Drafting
1. Get it down on paper.
1. Get it down on paper.
3. Take a break and do something else.
3. Take a break and do something else.
3. Come back with a fresh perspective.
3. Come back with a fresh perspective.
Editing
Editing
1. Get to the point within the first two sentences.
1. Get to the point within the first two sentences.
2. Focus on the who, what, where, when, and why. "The facts, ma'am, just the facts."
2. Focus on the who, what, where, when, and why. "The facts, ma'am, just the facts."
3. Stick with everyday language to ensure your message is clear. Use "use" instead of "utilize."
3. Stick with everyday language to ensure your message is clear. Use "use" instead of "utilize."
4. Delete extraneous words to be concise. Use "to" instead of "in order to" and "with" instead of "together with" or "in conjunction with."
4. Delete extraneous words to be concise. Use "to" instead of "in order to" and "with" instead of "together with" or "in conjunction with."
5. Shorten sentences to keep them under 30 words.
5. Shorten sentences to keep them under 30 words.
6. Avoid jargon, acronyms, and idioms.
6. Avoid jargon, acronyms, and idioms.
7. Start sentences with action verbs.
7. Start sentences with action verbs.
8. Consider alternative ways to get your message across.
8. Consider alternative ways to get your message across.
Family Event Example
Family Event Example
Who: 3rd grade families
Who: 3rd grade families
Quién: Familias del 3er grado
Quién: Familias del 3er grado
What: Family Literacy Night
What: Family Literacy Night
Qué: Noche de Lectura Familiar
Qué: Noche de Lectura Familiar
Where: Broadus Wood Elementary Cafeteria
Where: Broadus Wood Elementary Cafeteria
Dónde: Cafeteria de Broadus Wood Elementary
Dónde: Cafeteria de Broadus Wood Elementary
When: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 6:00pm
When: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 6:00pm
Cuándo: martes, 1 de noviembre, 2022 a las 6:00 pm
Cuándo: martes, 1 de noviembre, 2022 a las 6:00 pm
Why: You are your child’s first and most important teacher! Come learn new and exciting strategies for reading at home. Dinner and childcare will be provided.
Why: You are your child’s first and most important teacher! Come learn new and exciting strategies for reading at home. Dinner and childcare will be provided.
Por qué: ¡Usted es el primer y más importante maestro de su hijo! Venga a aprender nuevas y emocionantes estrategias para leer en casa. La cena y el cuidado de niños serán proporcionados.
Por qué: ¡Usted es el primer y más importante maestro de su hijo! Venga a aprender nuevas y emocionantes estrategias para leer en casa. La cena y el cuidado de niños serán proporcionados.
Resources
Resources
Hola! Communicating with Spanish-Speaking Parents by Joni Britt
Hola! Communicating with Spanish-Speaking Parents by Joni Britt
(Compliments of Baker-Butler Elementary School ESOL Class!)
(Compliments of Baker-Butler Elementary School ESOL Class!)
Updated September 2022
Updated September 2022