Newsletter ECE 4300 Please ensure you have a peer reviewed article chosen. We will cover how to do this in class.

I. Making Your Newsletter This presentation will walk you through the requirements for your newsletter. Information may be shared with you in class. Anything shared in class is a requirement for your newsletter and should be included. Take notes when the instructor is talking about assignments for ECE You will need to have a Peer Reviewed/Research Journal Article that relates to course objectives/content for this assignment. DO NOT POST pictures of, names of, or information about minors. This is illegal.

Microsoft Publisher If you are using Microsoft Publisher, save your work file in the version you are using. When it opens, select what kind of item you are creating, please select Newsletter. Choose a layout for your newsletter. Select one appealing to you. Any layout is acceptable for this assignment.

Publisher Continued Once you have your layout most will start with one page; insert 3 more pages. You should have a total of 4 pages. These pages should flow. Meaning they should match and be presented well.

Microsoft Word Open Word Select Templates, Select Newsletter, Select a Layout that appeals to you. Any layout will be appropriate for this assignment. It should be 4 pages long, no more or less. If it needs more pages (should be 4 pages in length) click the add pages button. You may add or make changes to anything on your pages. Ensure the newsletter flows.

Content of Your Newsletter Now you can go in to the different text boxes and create the content of your newsletter. If you are advanced at using these programs you are welcome to change, reformat or add boxes, etc. Ensuring it remains professional. In your classroom you would probably send a newsletter home before sending home the totes. For our class we are not sending home the totes, this is for practice.

I. Introduction Information The first page of your newsletter needs to include an introduction of who you are, what grade you are teaching, the name of your school, the best way to contact you, what your qualifications are, etc. Include a picture of yourself in this part of your newsletter. Communicate your excitement for the year and how much you look forward to working with students and parents.

TEKS Tote Information Remember this newsletter will be a part of your TEKS tote. Therefore it is important that you explain in this newsletter what this Tote is, its purpose, expectations, and how it will be used in your class throughout the year. For ECE 4300 its for language development. Explain how this tote will be used when it goes home. Include a list of materials that they will be required to return and a list of materials that they may keep. Also include when the tote is to be returned. This needs to be on first page of newsletter. It may be continued further on subsequent pages.

Your Peer Reviewed Journal Article Summary Include an article in your newsletter summarizing and sharing information from your peer reviewed article with parents. Think about what would be important to them from the article. Do not use direct quotes, paraphrase. Include an APA 6 th edition citation at the end of this article. We will go over APA at the end of this presentation.

Other Content The rest of the newsletter is all yours so get creative. Remember you need to fill all 4 pages. Ideas Include: In the News Upcoming school events/field trips Reading Lists Week or Month Calendars Lunch Menus Ways for Parents to Volunteer Information on school policies/procedures Recipes or directions for fun activities at home

Pictures and Graphics Your newsletter should include at least 4 pictures or graphics. Other than your personal picture/ Colorful and Appealing Do not leave large holes or gaps of white space. People often lose points for this.

Avoid Wraps A wrap in text is when there is not enough space on a line for a word. The word is split between two lines with a dash. It DOES NOT look good and is distracting. You can avoid this by centering your text. Example: A wrap is very anno- ying, it is distracting. It also doe- s not look very good does it?

Grammar And Spelling This is the first newsletter your student’s parents will see. It will allow them to learn about you. If your newsletter is very well or very poorly written, parents will notice. If you have errors in your newsletter the parents may question your ability to teach their children. Take this assignment seriously. Keep it professional. Proofread it for errors!

Keep it Professional This newsletter needs to be professional. You need to be cognitive and aware of what you are putting in it. Your photo should include only you. You should not be in a bathing suit or shirtless. You should not be wearing anything vulgar etc. If you would not wear it to a school you are teaching at don’t use it. Be careful of what you include in your biography. If you say “I enjoy spending my time with my buds on the weekend having a few drinks” is that appropriate? Think before you write about it.

Turning it In I will view it on your computer when it is complete. If you do not save as follows you will not be able to open it at home. Save your file in its original format (Word or Publisher) Then save your file as a PDF. Click Save As Give it a name Select drop box select.pdf Click save it to yourself or put on your flashdrive You will submit this to the TRACS assignment tab by the end of class as a PDF.

Why are we doing this? It is important that you know how to communicate with parents. This is a daily part of being a teacher. You may also need to make newsletters for other classes. Making this newsletter will help you be prepared for other classes as well as in the field. This newsletter can serve as an example of how you will communicate with parents in your portfolio. For ECE 4300 we are learning to write a newsletter to accompany a tote the first/each time we send it home.

Helpful Hints SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE!!! Save multiple ways, flash drive, desktop, it yourself, etc. SAVE SAVE SAVE

APA Citations Brown, A. (2012). Learning English on her own-almost: The facilitative role of one immigrant’s daughter. Journal of Latinos and Education, 11 (4), Lefmann, T. & Combs-Orme. (2013). Early brain development for social work practice: Integrating neuroscience with Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 23 (5), No http or DOI is necessary for the assignment. Use the following link to help you:

Example: Cover Page 1. Creative Title 2. Biography 3. Photo of Self 4. No White Space 5. Contact Information

Content 1. Notice there is no white space. 2. Break up the page with graphics, and lines. 3. Keep it Colorful 4. Keep it Informative

Content 1. Summary with Reference at bottom of last column. 2. Get Creative, Fill the White Space 3. Keep graphics tied to information in the newsletter.

Back Page 1. Fill the space with creativity of your choice! 2. This example includes an activity for the children and information for the parents.