Welcome each new youngster and family to your school as if they are family.

Organize Family Fun Nights 4 new students & their parent(s) featuring cooperative games and other ice breakers. (Don't forget 2 involve P.E and music teachers.)

Telephone and introduce yourself to the parent(s) of each student new to you during the first few weeks of the school year. (prior to Open House nite)

maintain a newsletter-parents feel welcome and always involved! this can also help raise awareness or gain new volunteers

Ask parents for input, eg. wallwisher of what they want covered during open house. Invite them to partic. in todaysmeet from home while kids do it in class.

"If schools are to reach their full potential, parents need to be a part of the planning process." Parents & Education Planning @gcouros.

"If schools are to reach their full potential, parents need to be a part of the planning process." Parents & Education Planning @gcouros.

Build a Home-School Partnership (See pp. 174-193 of Teaching as an Act of Love.)

"Listen" to parents via PARENT SURVEYS such as this, using tools like SurveyMonkey

Parents as Partners: Read David Truss's blog post.

Celebrate Diversity! (Identity Day Presentation @gcouros )

A caring smile goes a long way in making anyone feel relaxed & welcome.

Make it a point for all teachers to contact parents/guardians in first 10 days of school. Helps to set a positive tone for future discussions.

Have staff greet the kids at the doorway to the classroom as they enter in the am. This could be the first positive encounter they have with an adult that day.

Communicate all of the great things happening in classrooms and formally invite parents in

Make sure that every staff member knows the power of eye contact and a simple hello when walking by. Learn kids names and greet them personally. @flourishingki

This can be used in so many ways. One use I can think of is using it to post examples of student writing throughout the year.

This would obviously look different for different grade levels . . . excellent tool. Thanks Richard!

Try to prevent early school leaving...

Provide comfortable areas for students to mingle

get out from behind your computer and form meaningful relationships with students and faculty members

When Teachers & Parents Listen to One Another with Open Hearts & Open Minds

Check on those who are absent. Call or write a personal note.

Smiles are universally understood.

Create a fun video welcoming students and explaining what your class is all about

Place a suggestion box in the rear of the room and encourage students to make written comments every time the class meets.

We are planning a PTO Open house with food and venders. Hoping to get a better turnout. bigger next year. trying to make more of a party.

Lay the first stepping stones of communication with hot spot families ...make the 1st call home a positive one ...thus those future ones will be less daunting

Deliver "Welcome" packages to incoming students. We deliver baggies filled with a book, pencil, a welcome letter, and candy to our incoming 1st graders.

Get to know the home language of each family so it can be included in your welcome displays and plans.

Send a picture post card to incoming students welcoming them to your class & school year.

OPEN DOOR POLICY

Teachers should call parents to share positives about their kids!

A welcoming demeanor, attitude, and smile...make it obvious that you ENJOY your job....will comfort every parent and be OBVIOUS to those who walk in your door!

"Survey parents at beginning of school year to see what skills, expertise, help they can provide to get them involved." @cybraryman1

MorahS: Teachers should call parents to share positives about their kids!

Unknown: "Welcome" packages to incoming students. We deliver baggies with a book, pencil and a welcome letter to our incoming 1st graders.

Unknown: "Welcome" packages to incoming students. We deliver baggies with a book, pencil and a welcome letter to our incoming 1st graders.

"You can tell a school culture if they smile & welcome visitors" @AngelaMaiers (Sept. 26, 2010)

Aron C says: Lay the first stepping stones of communication with hot spot families ...make the 1st call home a positive one ...thus those future ones will be less daunting

Have every staff member reach out to 4 students they don't know. Every student deserves to be known. :)