Lauren Ellis

CI 406
Reflective Statement on Standard 9

Artifact: Introduction Letter to Parents

Standard 9. Collaborative Relationships (Evidence should document

participation in school activities, communication with parents, consultations
with other professionals on behalf of students)

1. To me this standard deals with the teachers’ involvement in the surrounding

community. To the students, it is a really big deal if teachers know there is a parade on

Saturday for a hometown festival, or to see their teacher at a football game. I always felt

more connected to my teacher if I could talk to them about activities outside of the

school, instead of just talking about the school or curriculum. It is a good tie to have to all

the students’; it shows you care about their community and your interested in their lives

outside of the school walls. Another aspect of this standard is showing the importance

with the communication with parents. Parents can be a teacher’s greatest ally and partner

to help their children learn. When a teacher has the support and attention of the students’

parents, this is a great accomplishment. A teacher having constant communication with

parents will help with communicating class field trips, announcements, important

assignments that on going on in the classroom. Communication with parents will also

help if there are behavioral issues with students, if you the parents trust and respect, they

will support you and not second-guess the punishment you have given their child. Then

the last aspect, dealing with other professionals in the building on the student’s behalf is

critical. The most critical case is with students with special needs of any kind. This

dealing with students with a reading deficiency or a physical handicap, there always

needs to be communication with the resource teachers. If the teacher has communication
then they know what their students are doing when they leave the main classroom and

they can also discuss progress. This will also help the parents of these students, because

the main classroom teacher may be easier to get a hold of then a teacher that might

possibly travel between different buildings in the district.

2. Explain how the artifact you chose demonstrates your understanding and application

of the standard.

The artifact that I chose to help demonstrate this standard is a letter of introduction that I

sent out in the weekly newsletter. I believe that this artifact demonstrates my

understanding of this standard because I am trying to open the lines of communication

between the parents and I. I want to let them know that I am present in their child’s class

and that I will be actively involved in the education of their students. I believe that it is

important to let the parents be aware of what is occurring in the classroom at all times. By

writing this letter, I am informing them of my presence, and keeping them up to date on

information about myself.

2 A. If the artifact has been used in your practice, reflect upon how your teaching will

change in the future to further meet the standard.

I was able to put my artifact into practice; my letter of introduction went out in the first

weeks of school. I believe that when I become a teacher, that this will just be the starting

point of my career for meeting standard 9. I believe that standard 9 is something that

needs to happen on a weekly basis to all parents in the classroom. It would be a very

good idea to send home a weekly newsletter, informing the parents of the classroom
activities for the week. Also communication with parents about the progression or

regression of their students learning patterns can be a key element. It is imperative to

always progress in my ways of communication with parents and other professionals in

my building.

3. Conclude with a paragraph discussing how you are more prepared to Teach and

Learn in a Diverse Society as a result of satisfactorily meeting the standard.

This artifact has taught me that in a diverse society, a teacher needs to be able to keep

open communication with all students and their parents. It is essential to have constant

communication with all parents in the classroom. Parental encouragement and help

outside the classroom is essential and to establish a good communication base will help

this goal. Also becoming involved in the surrounding community will help me to become

familiar with students and what kind of houses and living situations they may be living

in. This will help when I am trying to relate to a child or if a child is having a bad day, I

may have a little insight into the outside factors affecting their behavior. Communication

with other professionals in the building is critical to help all students learn. This

communication can help with lesson planning and tracking the progress of students that

may leave the classroom for some subject areas.