These tools are all currently lost due to
the Elementary school work-to-rule action, which according to CBC includes:
"teachers will not provide comments on
report cards, update classroom websites or blogs, complete or distribute class
newsletters, participate in in-school meetings or professional learning
activities on the next PA day, fill in for an absent teacher, or take on other
duties during prep time."
While I do not place any blame for the loss
of these non-essential teaching tools on either party they can be useful tools.
I’m exploring these topics because the work-to-rule action has brought them
into the educational spotlight. I wish only to show that these teaching tools
can be extremely valuable to parents, teachers and students.
Report Card Comments
Report card comments are meant to
supplement a student’s grade and explain, to both parent and student, which
areas the student is excelling in and which areas need improvement. These
comments should be personalized for each student and based on their experiences
with the content. Report card comments should also include ‘next steps’ for
students, which can help high achieving student’s excel and prevent lower
achieving students from being overwhelmed by too many ‘next steps’. Though
brief, report card comments can provide a succinct summary of the student’s
achievement to the student and their parents; a vital step in the group effort
of ensuring maximal student achievement.
 |
| Example Ontario 9-12 Report Card http://quickschools.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/provincialrc.png |
Classroom Websites
Classroom websites, blogs, wikis, twitter
accounts, etc. can be useful tools for communicating with teachers and
students. These tools can be used for a variety of purposes; both
organizational and educational. For both students and parents, these sites can
serve as 21st century agendas, listing homework, trips, PA days and
events. This information is easily accessible for parents and students and
can’t get lost on the way home. Classroom websites and other online tools can
also serve educational purposes. Teachers can post review questions, additional
practice sheets, study guides, experiments to try at home, teaching videos,
real life applications and extending activities. All of these resources can be
shared in the classroom but class time is limited. Having these resources
posted online means that teachers can share a wider variety of information that
students can access in privacy and based on their own needs. It also gives both
parents and students access to resources that fit their needs, instead of
taking class time to introduce an extending activity that is only relevant to a
couple of students. Classroom websites are limited only by the time a teacher
can invest; they’re valuable tools for communication and self-directed
learning.
 | ||||
| Sample Newsletter |
Here are some of the more popular classroom websites:
Class Newsletters
Class newsletters can serve similar
purposes to class websites, they help communicate with parents and students.
Class newsletters are more limited than websites because they can’t be updated
daily. Despite this, newsletters can still inform parents of large assignments,
class trips, school events, fundraisers, PA days and breaks. They are perhaps a
more traditional way of communicating with a student’s household and therefore
may be seen by more parents.
Professional Development
Professional development may seem
unnecessary because teachers are well educated before stepping into the
classroom for their first day. Although it is true that teachers should be well
prepared for their first day the classroom is a fluid and dynamic place.
Professional development can include updates to teaching practices that have
been discovered by academia since the teacher graduated. It can also include
workshops on how to adapt to new curricula or teaching goals. Further,
professional development days can be used to learn new teaching or
extracurricular programs that teachers may be interested in applying. In the 21st
century, many workshops are devoted to technology in the classroom, both how to
use it for student learning and for communication. Without these experiences
teachers won’t be constantly learning, adapting and expanding their teaching
toolkits unless they do so on their own time.
For teachers looking to continue improving
their practice edutopia has a variety of professional development tools.
References
Tri-County Regional School Board. Report Card Comments. A Handbook for Elementary Teachers. Retrieved from: http://www.tcrsb.ca/sis/staff/Report%20Card/Creating%20Strong%20Report%20Card%20Comments%20-%20A%20
Handbook%20for%20Elementary%20Teachers.pdf
Handbook%20for%20Elementary%20Teachers.pdf
Haines, Rebeccah, Keep parents in the loop with classroom websites. Learn NC. Retrieved from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/6639
Teacher development resources. Edutopia. Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/teacher-development
