“Meet the Student Teacher” letter sent home to families at the beginning of the year.

Evidence: Welcome Letter / Attending Back to School Night

Justification: When looking to fulfill professional responsibilities, it is imperative to establish positive relationships with colleagues and families. Research shows that family involvement in schools is linked to student achievement. Essentially, the more families are engaged in their child’s education, the better their child will perform. In turn, I feel a great responsibility to promote productive partnerships with students and their families. As a teacher, my mission is to create a welcoming classroom environment where all families feel included, informed, and valued.

During my first week in the school, a main priority of mine was introducing myself to parents and families. This was done in the form of a “meet the student teacher” letter where I introduced myself, informed families of my presence in the classroom, and shared my contact information. Creating this open line of communication allowed me the opportunity to begin establishing positive relationships with families. One mother contacted me regarding her son who spends afternoons with us in math and the remainder of his day in an autistic support classroom. As she thanked me for my support and presence in her son’s education, I knew I was working towards my goal of creating a classroom environment where all families feel valued. As well as the letter, I attended “Back to School Night” alongside my mentor teacher. This event allowed me to introduce myself in person and listen to the desires of families in regards to their children’s education. I am so glad I made these connections early on. As I attended IEP meetings later on in the year, families recognized me and felt comfortable with me sitting in. Clearly, building productive relationships pays off.