How to Write a Classroom Welcome Letter!

In this article we will discuss creating a thorough welcoming packet, with your expectations for the student during the school year to give to each parent.

Start the Year Off Right With a Classroom Welcome Letter

Although some teachers start with just a classroom welcome letter, I personally recommend to begin the school year by preparing a whole written informational packet about your classroom and teaching philosophy. Include contact information, web page, and best time to reach you. For an added bonus, have the informational packet available on your classroom web page. The informational packet that I prepare (and update each year) is several pages long and includes welcome information for: meet the teacher page, class schedule, behavioral policy, homework policy, classroom rules and a detailed summary of each curriculum area and my expectations for academic success.

Give a detailed description of each content area and what your expectations are for the child at home and at school in the content area. For example, when telling the parents about the reading curriculum, include the name of the reading program and the phonics program that the school utilizes. Also, include a list or detailed description of the curriculum, including your expectations for learning in word work (for example, how many sight words are the students accountable to know at the end of the school year?). Do this for each content area.

Parents will appreciate that you told them what your expectations are. At the end of one school year, I had parents come to me, packet in hand, delighted that I wrote that their Kindergartener would read independently at the end of the school year and that indeed she was reading independently.

If you are forthcoming about your expectations with the parents, then they can set goals for the child at home and reinforce what you are doing in the classroom. I have even had parents adapt my classroom behavior and award policy at home to help keep consistent expectations between school and home. The informational packet can become quite lengthy, but the rewards it delivers will be worth the time that it takes to prepare it.

During the school year, keep parents informed of which unit of study you are in for each content area by weekly or monthly newsletters. In each newsletter, give them ideas on how to reinforce the subject matter at home.

Effective Parent-Teacher Communication

Communication is the key to any good relationship. Get more ideas on talking to parents and building a good foundation for the school year here.

1. Parent-Teacher Communication Ideas: Start to a Great Year
2. Start a Classroom Welcome Packet for Parents
3. Year Long Teacher Communication Tips
4. Teacher Notes to Parents: Communicating Well with Parents

2 Comments

Oct 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Laurie Patsalides

Hi Carmen

Great question.
As the dean of discipline, I think one would want to discuss the district policy on behavior, and a bit about how self-discipline is learned. Give parents and teachers examples on how to model self-discipline in the home and in the classroom. This may include, structured time, apologizing when wrong, communicating well, or completing tasks. It may include examples of role-playing to show students the proper way to handle problems in the school or classroom. This should also include signs of a true discipline problem and steps to get help, the parents role in helping the student and the teacher's role in helping the student. When a discipline problem is brought to the dean, refer back to the policy that was deviated by the student. Be firm and be sure to listen to all parties before a decision is made. Once a decision has been made, outline the decision (again, refer to the policy) and how the same situation can be avoided in the future. Most of all, stay positive in the midst of a negative situation. When necessary, employ the assistance of a school counselor or psychologist. I hope this helps to answer the question (part of the question seems to be cut-off).
Laurie Patsalides