Standard+10

===**Home | Standard 1 | Standard 2 | Standard 3 | Standard 4 | Standard 5 | Standard 6 | Standard 7 | Standard 8 | Standard 9 | Standard 10 **===

__**10 Teachers are connected with other teachers and the community. **__ The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well-being and acts with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.

Evidence 10: Grade 8 Global Issues Blog

Rationale 10: My Grade 8 Global Issues blog was created to give parents of my students a place to see what was happening in social studies class. I post activities we are doing in class, websites we use, internet or technology tools parents might find helpful and anything else related to school that I would like to share.

This communication tool is important for parents of students at this age level who are not always willing to share what is going on in class. The blog posts allow parents to ask more direct questions about what is being studied in social studies, rather than asking the general how was class today question. More open lines of communication between parent, student and teacher enhance the educational experience for the student in and out of school.

Communication with parents has always been an area in need of improvement for me. The blog is important to my development because it allows me to communicate with parents in a medium that is more comfortable and exciting for me. It has also increased my reflection on what I choose to do in my class, asking myself, what will parents want to know about this activity we are doing?

KSD 10.K.2 The teacher understands how factors in the students’ environment outside of school (e.g. family circumstances, community environments, health, and economic conditions) may influence students’ lives and learning.

The class blog for social studies gives parents access to what we are doing in class and a better ability to start a conversation about their student’s education. These conversations can create a more supportive environment both at home and at school for the student who then knows that parents and teachers are in communication with one another. Students can feel a better connection or common thread in their lives with these more supportive environments.

10.S.4 The teacher establishes respectful and productive relationships with parents and guardians from diverse home and community situations and seeks cooperative partnerships in support of student learning and well-being.

The class blog is a positive form of communication that takes place with parents. It produces a productive relationship between myself and all parents, not just the ones of students who struggle or misbehave. Well beyond the majority of our students’ homes have access to internet and so the blog provides a non-threatening, positive experience for the parent in regards to their student’s school. It is also a safe and convenient place for parents to ask questions because it doesn’t require a phone call during school hours, but rather a free time of the day to communicate.

10.D.1 The teacher values and appreciates all aspects of a child’s experience.

Students who have homes where education is discussed and valued seem to appreciate their education better. Providing a blog about class is just one way that I can help better foster a home environment that makes school important and out in the open between student and parent. When a student comes to school and describes a conversation at home about class work, their engagement is that much greater for the day’s activities and therefore going to increase that student’s level of achievement.