Effectively Communicating Student Progress
Providing and Keeping Proper Documentation of Student Work
Jan 28, 2009
Documenting student progress and communicating that effectively with the parents of your students is vital to the success of the school year. Beginning the year with a set communication practice, and then following through with that method of parent and student communication, is imperative. Keeping proper records and using consistent methods of communicating in the grading progress will ensure parents are properly informed and you, as the teacher, are properly backed through documentation.
Communication Tools for the Start of the Year
At the start of the school year, begin with documents that communicate your classroom management and your grading policy to both parent and student. Require that parents and the student sign the document and file it away in each student’s file in the classroom. This will ensure you have documentation that the parents and their child were aware of your grading policy, classroom rules, and management techniques for the year.
Consider beginning the year with a newsletter that informs the parents what is coming up in the classroom for that week, month or quarter. Elements to include in the newsletter are the state standards being covered in each subject area, projects related to the units of study, upcoming field trips and school events as well as any reminders. Create a template to be used each time to simplify the drafting process. By implementing the use of a newsletter in your classroom, fewer questions will arise, alleviating your need to conference, write emails or make phone calls.
Avoiding Parent Conflict through Consistent Record Methods
When parents are given consistent feedback as to their child’s progress, as well as preemptive communication as to assignment expectations, you will find parent concerns minimized. By ensuring parents are aware of your grading practices through the administering of your policy at the start of the year, as well as through the use of rubrics outlining expectations for work in advance of assignments, you will find less misunderstanding and more success in your classroom.
Additionally, having parents sign rubrics for those assignments that are weighted highly, or that require multiple steps and additional organization on the students' parts, will also ensure that the students are getting additional coaching and support at home. Rubrics also can serve as a discussion point if the assignment does not go well for the student or a praising tool if it does.Requiring that graded rubrics are signed and returned to be filed away for the term is one method of keeping documentation of progress. By filing away the graded work of students in the classroom after parent review, it provides an invaluable resource for showing progress or lack thereof.
It is also recommended that the teacher print out and file any and all communication between teacher and the parent via email. If written notes are sent in, file those along with a note of your response. Keep a conference log for phone and in-person conferences. By having such a file, the teacher, student and parent have a point of reference for any situation that may arise, positive or negative.
The process of communicating with parents effectively is cultivated and tweaked over time based on your school district policies as well as your individual comfort as the teacher. By ensuring that proper documentation is kept on each student, as well as having several methods of communicating expectations to parents and students, you as the teacher will find a year that runs smoothly and successfully.
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