CONNECTING WITH PARENTS Maggie Rosenblum, Teacher Jean Simpson, Assistant Director Children’s School Carnegie Mellon University (412)

INTRODUCTION  Why are you here?  What would you like to focus on?  How do you connect with parents?

How the Children’s School Connects  Welcoming  Open  Honest  Respectful  Teamwork

Provide a Welcoming Environment  A place for parents to feel comfortable sitting and chatting.  A place with coffee, snacks, and reading materials.

Introduce Parents to Your Program  Purpose: To let parents know about your purpose, mission, goals, philosophy, methods, procedures.  Application Packet  Open door policy - tours, observations  Visitor Packet  Web page (

Give Specific Information Before a Child Starts the Program  Summer Mailing  Parent Night in September Parent handbook Parent handbook  School Visits

Communicate Throughout the School Year  Face to face communications Greeting & Dismissal Greeting & Dismissal Conferences Conferences Open Houses Open Houses

 Written communications School Newsletters School Newsletters Teacher Newsletters Teacher Newsletters White Board White Board s s Teacher Notes Teacher Notes

 Other communications Telephone conversations Telephone conversations Reference Materials Available Reference Materials Available Referral Lists Available Referral Lists Available Web Page Web Page

Parental Involvement  Informal Open Door Policy Open Door Policy Classroom Visits Classroom Visits

 Formal Brown Bags Brown Bags Family Nights Family Nights Open Houses Open Houses Birthdays Birthdays Special Fridays Special Fridays Committees Committees Scholarships Scholarships

Challenging Issues  Severe Illness  Allergies  ESL  Special Needs  Death in the Family  Divorce  Diverse Family Structures

 Questions  Discussion  Handouts