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.
Cultural Considerations with Discipline
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.