Home and School Communication Philosophy and Plan
It takes a village. When it comes to the well-being, development and education of a child – parents/guardians and educators need to come together to secure the best results for the child. This bond is built on and maintains its strength through strong communication techniques. I plan on having an open line of communication with all the legal caregivers of my students. This will include phone calls, e-mails, monthly newsletters, website updates, and notes home. Communication will consistently be positive and informative. That way when I need to speak to guardians of a child about an unpleasant or troublesome topic it will be meaningful and hopefully be met with less resistance. I want them to know that we are all here for the needs of their child and to enhance their development.
There is a fine line between good communication and an over-saturation of information. I will present myself as open to the various forms of communication and make myself available to any questions or concerns parents may have. I will strive to let parents/guardians know how invested I am in their child’s well-being and development. Another tool that I would enjoy implementing would be having a parent volunteer. This technique would be beneficial to the child to see that home and school are a team, it would be beneficial to the parent to see first-hand what is occurring at school, and it would be beneficial to the teacher to have the extra assistance in the classroom.
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Cultural Considerations with Discipline
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Cultural considerations should be executed throughout the classroom environment, curriculum and lessons, discussions – and discipline. Many cultures process information differently than others or react to a situation in a different manner. As an educator, it is my job to be aware of the different cultures and their customs that reside in my classroom. I must know the best ways to approach a child who comes from a different background or beliefs system, than my own. A behavior that may appear to be disrespectful or un-caring to one person may be a sign of timidness, embarrassment, understanding or regret in another. Some cultures have different outlooks on education than others. This is also a consideration the teacher should have. It is crucial for the teacher to know his or her students, their home-life, and their culture to the best of their abilities. The more information one has, the less chance things could be misconstrued and a greater chance that they’ll be handled appropriately and successfully.
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