Many questions come to the mind of a first year teacher when trying to compose a letter to students and parents. Sometimes the fear of acceptance comes into play, as well as a host of other apprehensions about entering the profession with very little experience.
Everyone has to start somewhere, so the best way to begin composing your introduction letter is to make note of your attributes as a person, your education and achievements, your mission as a teacher, and your classroom goals and expectations.
Keep in mind that parents like to know that their child is entering a structured setting in the classroom with a person who is competent in their field of expertise and capable of nurturing their child’s success.
Set a Friendly Tone to Your Letter
A person’s perception of another can easily be detected through words. Begin your introduction in a friendly tone that makes the parent and student feel welcome and reflects their well being as your first priority. Refrain from talking about yourself until after you have communicated your concerns for the parent and student. This will convey the message that their well being comes before you.
Convey Your Achievements with Confidence
As a first year teacher, you may think that your resume seems like an empty page that needs to be filled. Perhaps you will feel that your achievements are minute when compared to other teachers.
If you really take a look at your achievements up until the point of your first teaching position, you will be surprised to find a number that will add credibility to your introduction letter. These could be achievements like awards you have received, previous community involvements, academic recognitions, and special achievements during your student teaching experience.
Convey your educational background and achievements with confidence without exemplifying arrogance. This will send a message that although this is your first teaching position, you are confident with who you are, your abilities, and what you have achieved. Additionally, it will help to relieve any doubts or fears in the minds of the students and parents that they are about to face instability in the classroom due to your lack of experience.
Add a personal touch to your achievements by mentioning some of your hobbies and interests. This will also break the ice when you meet your students and their parents for the first time.
Discuss Your Classroom Goals and Mission
Briefly discuss what you plan to achieve in the classroom during the coming year and the learning environment you plan to provide in your classroom. This also tells students and parents what to expect and helps to relieve any apprehension associated with the first week of school. Your students will also feel as though they already know something about you when they enter your room and will feel more comfortable about their first day of school.
Also include a list of items your students will need to have in hand when they arrive in your classroom. This will also convey the message that you have a goal and a purpose in mind when it comes to learning.
Close the letter with a statement of your mission as a teacher and what you plan to offer the students and community during your first year of teaching.
By: J.C. Sprenger
Posts Tagged ‘Profession’
How to Compose a Welcome Letter to Prospective Students & Parents
January 30th, 2010Criteria For IEE’s at Public Expense – Can Special Education Personnel Do That?
November 4th, 2009
Are you a parent who is interested in what criteria special education personnel can use for an Independent Educational Evaluation at Public Expense? Have you been denied an IEE at public expense, because you refuse to go along with strict criteria set by your school district? This article will discuss what criteria special education personnel are allowed to set for IEE’s at public expense.
The Office of Special Education Programs does allow school districts to make criteria for IEE’s at public expense if:
a. Parents are allowed to ask for a waiver of the criteria if their child’s disability warrants it, or
b. The criteria do not prevent the parent from getting the IEE at public expense.
Below is a discussion of the criteria that school districts are allowed to set: (Just remember that the criteria cannot prevent the parent from getting the IEE at public expense)
1. Professional qualifications; An independent evaluator must be at least as qualified, as special education personnel, who do the testing in the school district. If you want an independent evaluator who is more qualified than school person, you must put that in your initial request for an IEE at public expense.
A lot of conflict often occurs because parents want their child tested by a Clinical psychologist not a School psychologist; which increases the cost.
If you can prove, that unique circumstances require a clinical psychologist, then your school district may agree. If they do not, they should file for a due process hearing.
2. Cost; A lot of school districts, place very low cost on independent educational evaluations at public expense. A good qualified independent evaluator is going to cost quite a bit, depending on the profession and location. If the evaluation that you want is going to cost more than the amount stated by your school district, tell them that you are asking for a cost waiver because of unique circumstances. They may ask you to list the unique circumstances, which is allowed.
Another issue is that school personnel cannot prevent you from getting an IEE at public expense. If they make the cost too low, then you will not be able to get the evaluation.
3. Geographical; Some school districts want you to stay within a certain geographic area. Again they can do it, if it does not prevent you from getting the evaluation.
Below is criteria school districts are not allowed to set:
1. Pick from this list of Evaluators: This is not allowed by the Office of Special Education Programs which is part of the Department of Education.
2. We will pay but we get to pick the evaluator: Also not allowed by OSEP. On February 20, 2004 OSEP published a policy letter regarding IEE’s at public expense. In this letter OSEP states: It is the parent, not the district, who has the right to choose which evaluator. . .will conduct the evaluation.
3. If you want an IEE at public expense you must file for a due process hearing. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is clear; either school districts pay for the evaluation of they file for a due process hearing to prove that their evaluation is correct. This is important because in some states the burden of proof at due process rests on the party that files.
4. We want to determine specifically what tests are done. IDEA states that parents and school districts must agree on areas to be tested, not on the tests themselves. If an agreement cannot be reached then special education personnel must file for a due process hearing.
By understanding what criteria special education personnel can make for an IEE at public expense, you will be in a better position to get an IEE at public expense for your child.
By: JoAnn Collins
