Newsletters

Newsletters

Use newsletters for regular communication to parents and guardians.  Newsletters do not have to be very long and can contain any information that you think is important for parents and guardians to know.  Set a realistic expectation for how many newsletters you can manage to send out in addition to all the other work you need to complete for your classes.  The frequency is not as important as the consistency.  Should parents and guardians expect to receive your newsletter once per month, at each progress report, once per term, before major assessments or classroom events, etc.?  You can set your own pace.

Some ideas to think about:

Will this be a newsletter specific for your class or from a team of teachers?

What information do you want to communicate in your newsletter?

• Class content

• Information about school or class events

• Curriculum updates

• Learning tips

• Soliciting help/collaboration from parents/volunteers

• Combination of topics

• Other

What format do you envision for your newsletter?  

• • Is it just a simple mass email or do you have a template to follow?

How will it be delivered to parents/guardians?

• Mass email

• Posted to teacher or school website

• Postal mail

• Communication App

• Other

Other Email Ideas

In addition to formal newsletters sometimes it is good to send out concise email messages for a variety of reasons.  Keeping parents informed about changes to schedules or routines is always good practice.  Here are some other examples of reasons to send out shorter messages to parents and guardians.

• Recognition of student work

• Increased effort in class

• Reminders about being prepared for each class

• Extra help availability

• Class resources that are available

• Attendance issues

• Concern about changes in a student's motivation

• Student shows low self efficacy

• Grades beginning to slide

• Behavior issues

• Missing or incomplete work

• Notify a student is failing a term before the end of the term

• Important summative assessments - unit test, midterm and final exams, MCAS dates

Parent Feedback

"Just wanted to let you know I appreciate your website, email updates and you sharing your newsletters with both the students and parents."

"It is very helpful to have some insight into what our kids are working on and the resources you have put together for them."

"I meant to send this to you last month, I just wanted to thank you for the time that you take to make these resources for your students.  I know that both of my girls find your website as well as the additional publications that you send out very helpful (as do I)!"

"Awesome issue of your newsletter. I enjoyed it immensely.   My son can get a lot out benefit from the working memory tips."

"I love the newsletter----excellent pedagogy!"

"Thank you for all your effort this year with the newsletters. They are very helpful, and shows to me how much you care for your students. I don’t have any suggestions for any changes, but I would keep doing what you have been doing."

"I also want to thank you for your monthly newsletters; they are a great source of information and reference tool."