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Have you called your parents yet???

9/5/2014

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No, no, not your parents, parents... I mean your "parents".  As in, the families of your students!  If not, why not?  Do it!  Seriously, people!  It's the end of the first week of school -- make contact already!!

Almost no one is "in trouble" the first few days of school, and now is the ideal time to call and introduce yourself to the families in your class on nice, neutral terms, and share something interesting or positive you've observed about their child this week.  It's a great way to start connecting with families.  Also puts a little something in the emotional bank account in case you have to call later when the $#!% hits the fan!  (No one likes to have bad news on their first call from their child's teacher!!)

A first phone call is quick and easy:  "Hi, I'm Ms. So and So, Johnny's teacher from Such and Such school.  I'm just calling to say hello and introduce myself."

Sadly, this will usually be met with a surprised and almost anxious or shocked response.  It would seem that making contact with student families is a lost art.  But it's an important one, and it allows teachers and families to connect early in the year to begin developing that all-important relationship to support the whole child.

Teaching rotary this year?  I, too!

At least call your "home room" or "advisor" families.  I just finished the last of my 28 home room phone calls.  (Among other things, I learned from my short chats with 12 moms, 11 dads, 2 grandmothers and 3 answering machines that there is one other "twins" family in my class, and it also turns out I have the sister of a former student from another school in my class this year!! And yes, I jotted all that down in point form on the back of my "parent contact page" for each student; it will provide a refresher the next time I make contact with the home.)  

Monday I plan to call the other Grade 7 Class I have for Math and Science this year.  

If I am feeling particularly ambitious, I may try to squeeze in my Grade 8 FI Math class later in the week.  Maybe.

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    About Vera...

    Vera & her Sons, April 2021
    After writing for several teacher and multiple birth publications, including ETFO's Voice Magazine, Multiple Moments, and the Bulletwin, Vera turned her written attention to prolific blogging for some years, including BiB,  "Learn to Fly with Vera!"  and SMARTbansho .  Homeschooling 4 was her travel blog in Argentina.  She now spends more time on her Instagram (@schalgzeug_usw)  than her blog (pictures are worth a thousand words?!) 
    DISCLAIMER
    The views expressed on this blog are the views of the author, and do not necessarily represent the perspectives of her family members or the position of her employer on the the issues she blogs about.  These posts are intended to share resources, document family life, and encourage critical thought on a variety of subjects.  They are not intended to cause harm to any individual or member of any group. By reading this blog and viewing this site, you agree to not hold Vera liable for any harm done by views expressed in this blog.
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Vera C. Teschow, OCT, M.Ed., MOT
Toronto, ON & St Peter's Harbour, PE
www.verateschow.ca 2021
Photos used under Creative Commons from Sean MacEntee, Studio Paars, Bengt Nyman, zeevveez, GoodNCrazy, CJS*64, Accretion Disc, CharlesLam, Courtney Dirks, CJS*64 "Man with a camera", Accretion Disc, Bobolink, Ian Muttoo, BioDivLibrary, Alaskan Dude, IsabelleAcatauassu, runran, Transformer18, jglsongs, Create For Animal Rights, david_shankbone, Paul J Coles, foilman, Newport Geographic, Photo Everywhere, kevin dooley, Claudio , Alex Guibord, Tscherno, f_mafra, Terry Madeley, musee de l'horlogerie, BobMacInnes, wwarby, jonathangarcia, amboo who?, chimothy27, Elin B, cliff1066™, Grzegorz Łobiński, Rennett Stowe, Farhill, Phil Manker, Guitarfool5931, airguy1988, dierk schaefer, Rob Stemple, katerha, StockMonkeys.com, Ramotionblog, andrewk3715, charlywkarl, AJC1, rachel_titiriga