Element 7: Teachers are actively engaged members of their profession and the wider community.
7.1.1 Demonstrate the capacity to communicate effectively with parents and caregivers.
I have...knowledge that teachers and parents communicate both informally and formally. I also know that it is important for parents to play a role in their child's learning, therefore they should know what their child is learning/doing at school.
I have...knowledge, through observation that parents and teachers can communicate effectively through a communication diary type device whereby teachers can note what the child has done at school and the parent can note what was done at home. I observed this used effectively for behaivour management as the teacher was aware of what was going on at home, so was able to predict the child's behaviour in class. The child was also aware of the diary and therefore knew that her behaviour was being communicated between her parents and her teacher. I have also observed teachers sending letters to parents regarding what the child needs to bring into class or what is happening in class.
I have...also as part of a PE assignment on a personal issue of identity, created a letter that could be sent home to parents, outlining what their child will be learning about in class, why it is important for their child and where they will be able to find out more information about the topic.
Evidence: PE letter
7.1.2 Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of effective home-school links and processes for reporting student progress to parents and caregivers.
I have...a sound understanding that it is extremely important that home and school are linked as what is done at school should be mirrored and supported at home. For instance, if a child is completing a speech on the seasons, then it is asked that the child brings in resources from home to construct their speech. This then shows that parents and the home environment are contributing/supporting the learning at school.
I have...an understanding that teachers need to report to parents on students progress. This is so parents are aware of where their child is sitting and may allow them to offer further support in these areas for their child. This has to be completed formally at a half year/full year time and needs to be supported by evidence (e.g. work samples) However, may be completed informally through approaching parents at the end of a school day or by sending progress reports home to parents.
7.1.3 Demonstrate the importance of involving parents and caregivers in the educative process and the use of a limited number of strategies to seek that involvement.
I have...observed the importance of parents and caregivers involvement in the educative process. This was on a stage 1 class and because students were not at the age yet to research on the internet, they needed to bring in resources from home on a season as they were asked to construct a speech. It was so important that parents were involved in this as the students needed the resources in order to complete the task. It also allowed for parents to become active participants in their child's learning. Letters home to parents were used as a strategy to seek their involvement and this worked very effectively.
I have...also observed parents coming into schools to work as helpers in reading. This is again valuable as parents are invited to become active supporters in their child's learning. Schools and teachers need to offer and seek this involvement not only to receive support but also to allow parents who want to become involved in their child's learning, to become involved.
7.1.4 Demonstrate the capacity to work effectively with external professionals, teachers' aides and community-based personnel to enhance student learning opportunities.
I have...demonstrated the capacity to work effectively with teachers' aides as on my practicum I had to work with a teacher aide who was in the classroom supporting a child who had autism. This was done through outlining prior to the lesson what the lesson focus was and what the child with autism was required to do in the lesson.
7.1.5 Understand regulations and statutes related to teachers' responsibilities and students' rights.
7.1.6 Demonstrate the capacity to liase, communicate and interact effectively and appropriately with parents, caregivers, colleagues, industry and the local community.
I will...make sure that on my next practicum experience, I communicate to parents as much as possible. For instance, I will create a letter to parents outlining who I am and what their children may be working on whilst I am teaching. I will make an effort to communicate to parents before and after school, either to develop a relationship or to discuss a child's progress in class.
I will...endeavour to communicate to parents, either through a letter or informally after school about their child's progress in the classroom.
I will...seek for parent involvement on my next practicum in tasks that need extra support or resources. This will be explored through a number of strategies, for example, letters home, after school talks, parent meeting sessions and so on. I will also endeavour to interact with external professionals (if the opportunity becomes available) and community members on my next practicum.
I need...to make sure that I develop a rapport and positive relationship with parents on my next practicum in order to involve them in the classroom activities and to communicate effectively with them.
I need...also to communicate with my cooperating teacher and practicum school in order to find out ways I may be able to involve the community and parents in the learning experience I create. Also to find out whether any external professionals will be visiting the school and ways I can communicate with them.