Standard #10
Promote parental involvement and collaborate effectively with other staff, the community, higher education, other agencies, as well as parents and other caregivers for the benefit of students
Here is a picture of one of the poster board's I used for my gallery walk lesson plan, which incorporated real-estate prices found in the student's own communities, and neighboring towns.
In order to effectively suffice standard #10, it is imperative for educators to involve parental figures, or caregivers, staff, the community, higher education, and other agencies into their curriculums in order to successfully benefit the students. At my first student teaching placement, parental involvement was extremely high amongst all students. Attendance at parent-teacher conferences was up in the ninety-percentile. However, at my second place, which was Westbury High School, a "high-needs" district, whose budget fails every year, the parental involvement is slim to none for eleventh, and twelfth graders. My cooperating teacher explained that during grades nine, and ten, the parental/ caregiver's involvement would result in about thirty to forty conferences amongst a teacher's entire class schedule. But, once students reach grade eleven, or twelve, more likely than not, about ten parental figures will show up for conferences, which is how many guardians my teacher met with in September.
In attempt to involve the student's guardians, Westbury High School uses a parent-student online portal. When going to the Westbury School website, there is a tab for this portal, and that is where guardians, and student alike can keep track of the student's educational progresses. Parental figures can check up on their child's assignments, grades, and upcoming due dates. In addition, the student's schedule can also be viewed, as well as important reminders, and dates/ announcements regarding the school, fundraisers, field trips, and other essential events.
When signed in to the parent portal, guardians get important messages, and reminders regarding their child. One essential feature listed is attendance, which enables students to see when their child was present, and if they had "skipped" even when they were under the impression their child was in school. It keeps both parties informed, and in line. They can also click on any quarter: 1, 2, 3, or 4, and check grades for any and all enrolled classes during those times. On the actual calendar tab, red "A's" will show up, which the guardian can click on and view the upcoming project, test, quiz, or essay, alongside the due date, and requirements. This portal enables a student's guardian to keep track of their child's status, and progress, thus involving them in the educational process. My cooperating teacher gave me his password to "grade book," which is the teacher site used to add assignments, and list all necessary grades, and attendances. I went on this site in a timely fashion, and inserted the grades I came up with for all students H.W.'s, papers, and projects assigned while I was there.
Another way to keep guardians informed is for teachers to email, and place phone calls to parents for excessive lateness, extremely bad behavior in class, or endangerment of failing. At Westbury High School there is one meet-the-teacher night in September, and two parent-teacher conference times scheduled for the end of quarter one, and at the end of quarter two. Each of these practices enables guardians, students, and teachers to remain inter-connected, thus providing an easily accesible portal into the educational process.
During my gallery walk lesson plan, I was able to incorporate elements of the community into the curriculum by using real- estate prices from Westbury, and New Castle to show students the different "worth" of one town to the next on Long Island, and to then discuss why this is. In addition, I attended the month English departmental meetings, but the teachers in this district do not necessarily "collaborate" their lessons, although they do share plans/ ideas that have worked well for their students, which is beneficial. They also discuss elements of "higher education," and the up-and-coming literacy practices for English educators. For example, the new requirements, and standards that are coming into the picture, and will be required for new teachers to follow, and implement.
Lesson Plan for Gallery Walk
Parent Portal
Parent Portal Additional Information (Sign in screen)
Grade Book
In attempt to involve the student's guardians, Westbury High School uses a parent-student online portal. When going to the Westbury School website, there is a tab for this portal, and that is where guardians, and student alike can keep track of the student's educational progresses. Parental figures can check up on their child's assignments, grades, and upcoming due dates. In addition, the student's schedule can also be viewed, as well as important reminders, and dates/ announcements regarding the school, fundraisers, field trips, and other essential events.
When signed in to the parent portal, guardians get important messages, and reminders regarding their child. One essential feature listed is attendance, which enables students to see when their child was present, and if they had "skipped" even when they were under the impression their child was in school. It keeps both parties informed, and in line. They can also click on any quarter: 1, 2, 3, or 4, and check grades for any and all enrolled classes during those times. On the actual calendar tab, red "A's" will show up, which the guardian can click on and view the upcoming project, test, quiz, or essay, alongside the due date, and requirements. This portal enables a student's guardian to keep track of their child's status, and progress, thus involving them in the educational process. My cooperating teacher gave me his password to "grade book," which is the teacher site used to add assignments, and list all necessary grades, and attendances. I went on this site in a timely fashion, and inserted the grades I came up with for all students H.W.'s, papers, and projects assigned while I was there.
Another way to keep guardians informed is for teachers to email, and place phone calls to parents for excessive lateness, extremely bad behavior in class, or endangerment of failing. At Westbury High School there is one meet-the-teacher night in September, and two parent-teacher conference times scheduled for the end of quarter one, and at the end of quarter two. Each of these practices enables guardians, students, and teachers to remain inter-connected, thus providing an easily accesible portal into the educational process.
During my gallery walk lesson plan, I was able to incorporate elements of the community into the curriculum by using real- estate prices from Westbury, and New Castle to show students the different "worth" of one town to the next on Long Island, and to then discuss why this is. In addition, I attended the month English departmental meetings, but the teachers in this district do not necessarily "collaborate" their lessons, although they do share plans/ ideas that have worked well for their students, which is beneficial. They also discuss elements of "higher education," and the up-and-coming literacy practices for English educators. For example, the new requirements, and standards that are coming into the picture, and will be required for new teachers to follow, and implement.
Lesson Plan for Gallery Walk
Parent Portal
Parent Portal Additional Information (Sign in screen)
Grade Book