Teaching Website Recommendation

As I have reflected about my teaching practices, I can't help but think about several websites that I have found to be beneficial. Over the years I have taught Language Arts, Social Studies, and Drama classes. In each of these classes, I have managed to use lessons that have been posted on the Tolerance.org website. The website contains materials that are fairly impressive, and the themes are those that can't be ignored when teaching the students we have in our classrooms today and their interactions with others in the world. The Tolerance.Org website is an amazing wesite for teachers. The website is dedicated to promoting tolerance for all people and students we find in our classrooms and in society. Several videos can be requested for free from the website. These videos are amazing in content, visualization, and grab the attention of the students. My students have been mesmorized by the videos and the discussions we have had have been fascinating. The videos we have watched include: Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks, Mighty Times: The Children's March, and America's Civil Rights Movement.

Summer is coming to an end

As summer comes to an end, I am thinking about the upcoming school year. Every August I go through the same thought processes. I think about how I will arrange the classroom furniture to better fit the needs of my students. I recall previous classes and determine what went well with those classes and what could have been better. Finally, I take out old class letters (or syllabi) and draft a few copies for the new year which I will narrow down as the days continue to pass by.

I have determined that the class welcome letter is one of the most crucial pieces of information that teachers send out to their families. It is important that this letter is well crafted and communicates the correct message about the classroom. I have generated a list to consider when drafting the letter. Some of these ideas came from other teachers, some I read about over the years, and others I personally felt were important.

*Instead of saying, "Dear Parents/Guardians", try saying "Dear Families"
*Include a general overview of the curriculum
*Keep the rules/procedures of the classroom concise and state them positively
*Try stating the rules with a catching saying or with few words such as: "Be Respectful, Be on Time, and Be Productive" (Explain the rules in further detail. If the saying is something parents and students remember your year will be easier!)
*Include your grading practices
*Make sure your letter is error free and written grammatically correct. This is particularly important when viewed on a classroom website. I have read several letters (syllabi) that are littered with errors.
*Include your contact information
*Consider attaching a business card with your name, phone number, and email address

The most important thing to remember is to keep the letter concise and positive. Most of these ideas have come from other teachers, and I know there are other tips out there that are helpful. If you have additional tips, I would love to hear about them!