Each month, I invite families into my classroom to join me for a meeting designed to build community and inform them about classroom happenings, discuss books, or exhibit student work. I keep a record of those meetings so families can preview material beforehand and prepare questions. In order to improve the quality of these meetings, I have developed a form with success criteria, plus-delta, takeaways, and questions, and it is available here.
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During my first parent meeting, I ask classroom parents to share one thing about what it is like to be each of them. Between each parent's turn, I share something about myself. This gives classroom parents an opportunity to get to know me as well as introduce themselves to each other.
During my second parent meeting, I ask classroom parents to share one thing about what is like to being a parent. Between each parent's turn, I share something about being a teacher. This gives classroom parents an opportunity to share something about their families with me (I do not have children of my own) and learn more about my classroom practices. Many of the terminology from this round of 24 Things was incorporated into my Glossary of Teaching Terms. |
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What is the purpose of public education?
Question Only |
What is the purpose of public education?
Question and Panel Responses |
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You might also consider using the following questions from Scott Martin's "Teaching as Soul-Craft" workshop as icebreakers.
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I have selected the following texts to read and discuss with families three times during the school year. I work with a classroom volunteer to develop conversation norms and facilitate protocols as well as to prepare some questions in advance to scaffold discussions. I keep a record of those materials so families can preview material beforehand and prepare their own questions.
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