More Binders for Home School Communication

I am a first-grade teacher at Bronx Charter School for the Arts ("Bronx Arts"). The school is located in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. I am asking for 45 binders to enable more efficient and effective communication between families, teachers, and the larger school community. As I enter my sixth year teaching in Hunts Point, I see more than ever the need for consistent and clear communication between families and schools. I have searched for the best way to share information with families. By using Home-School Communication Binders that the students carry with them to and from school, I believe I have created a system that works well for my classroom environment and, most importantly, works well for the families I serve. The first- grade team and I have used the binder system to successfully communicate to families the happenings of our classes and to receive feedback from them regarding their children's progress. This system facilitates working parents' participation in curriculum decisions and important class/school events by providing detailed information in advance. The binder contains a monthly calendar listing birthdays, fieldtrips, events, and curriculum updates. It also includes a weekly homework chart, a section for class and school-wide notices, and as a section for correspondence between parents and teachers. In addition, the binder houses all of the students' homework assignments and supplies. I was initially wary about first-grade students having a binder. However, all of the 43 students from last year managed their binders responsibly, keeping them intact for the whole school year. While I witnessed these students become more mature learners, I also saw them become more organized through this process. I feel that the Home-School Communication Binders have significantly improved my relationship with parents and families. All of the families were thankful to have a clear understanding what was happening in our classroom and to have a convenient forum for communicating their questions and concerns to the teachers. With your help, I hope to again begin this school year with a fresh set of binders for my incoming first-grade class!