HOME LETTERS
Written communication by letters home is an effective form of communication between
students and parents. Many reasons are behind sending home a written form of communication
to the parents. It can be an individualized letter about the student, a classroom letter weekly or
monthly looking into what the student is doing in the classroom, or simply permission type forms
for parent authorization and signature. Through the use of technology in today's times being the
more dominant form, I feel that there is still a sense of personalization in it as an educator.
Written communication, one-way or two-way, is crucial when trying to engage parental
involvement. It is imperative as a teacher to inform the parents what is going on regularly in the
classrooms. Providing insight into classroom activities in the form of a newsletter or "two-way
communication involves interactive dialogue between teachers and parents" (Graham-Clay,
2005). Both forms open the door of transparency to the parents, thus gaining a level of trust
between the parents and teacher whether the written correspondence is a classroom newsletter or
a personalized letter about a student, where "good or bad behavior" (Burden, 2013), regardless is
a beneficial form of communication to a parent.
With a home letter addressing bad behavior, it is vital to highlight the good or proper
behavior that the student displays. It shows that the student is not being singled out with the bad
behavior, and in most cases, the behavior is isolated. Most times, sending a letter home informs
the parents. Still, it facilitates the communication between the parents and the students about
what is going on in their lives that they may not be discussing regularly.
Written communication in the form of home letters is what I choose to communicate with
my students parents. Both one-way and two-way will not blindside the parent or the student of
what is planned in school or upcoming tests. It can also be posted in the home and reduce
anxiety for the student of daily activities in the classroom and school. The two-way
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THE ABC’S OF MANAGING TEACHERS STRESS
communication offers me a window into the student's home life and provides me with ways of
figuring out how to work around problems they may be having. Written communication
provides a simple yet effective touch that sadly is phasing out in today's techno advanced world.
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HOME LETTERS
References
Bruden, P. (2013) Classroom Management. United States of America: John Wiley and Sons,
Inc. 273.
Graham-Clay, S. (2005). Communicating with Parents: Strategies for Teachers. School
Community Journal, 15(1), 117-129. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A
%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fcommunicating-with-parents-
strategies-teachers%2Fdocview%2F195462342%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D12085
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