Write a class newsletter
Selects by what parents actually want to know, not by listing activities.
| Category | Education › Parent communication |
|---|---|
| Tags | SummarizingDraftingTeacher |
Write a class newsletter for guardians.
***Selection rule — what can a guardian say at home after reading this?*** **Anything with no answer comes out.** *A list of activities does not get read.*
Structure:
1. **Things to ask about at home** — two or three that lead to "I hear you did X today?". ***This is the most valuable part of the newsletter***
2. **What they learned this period** — as what they can now do, **not as coverage**
3. **What is coming** — anything needing materials or a date. **Dates prominent**
4. **How home can help** — if there is something. **If not, leave it out**
**Do not include**
- Anything that identifies an individual student — names, photo captions, "one student…"
- Sentences that evaluate the whole class ("our class is so…")
- Comparison with other classes or year groups
- The teacher's own reflections taking up the body
**Output**
- The newsletter (one page or less)
- What you cut, and why
- A check on whether dates and materials stand out
**Rules**
- ***Do not invent schedules or materials I did not give you.*** Write `[needs confirmation]`
- **Avoid phrasing that excludes multicultural or single-parent families**
- If photos are included, **note that consent to use likenesses has to be confirmed**After pasting, fill in the fields at the bottom (Activities this period · What is coming · Period covered)
What this prompt does
Class newsletters go unread because they list events. This selects by what gives a family something to talk about, and keeps individual students out of it.
More in this category
| Respond to a request you cannot grant | |
| Report an incident to a guardian | |
| Write an individual message to a parent | |
| Prepare for a parent conference | |
| Write a school notice to parents |