Communication & Workflow

Communication: Digital Workflow

In both District 47 and District 27, I have maintained a daily class homepage for all of my courses. In District 47, I used WordPress and Google Classroom. In District 27, I use modules in Canvas to publish a daily agenda page.

Each agenda page follows a similar format and includes:

  • Daily focus/instructional purpose

  • Lesson outlines

    • Morning or Midday Maintenance

      • Students check my feedback for any assignments submitted through Canvas and for missing work

    • Resources

      • Assignment materials

      • Class notes

      • Assignment samples

    • Preview, do, review structure

    • Before reading, during reading, after reading structure

    • Assignment reminders

Communication and Workflow 2021

These daily agendas are valuable because students are able to preview all class activities which maximizes instructional time. Also, when students are absent, they can use the Canvas agenda to follow along with all activities and come back prepared with materials and questions. This minimizes the anxiety of missing content in school.

Parents have access to the daily Canvas agenda pages and so they have a resource that they can use to provide support at home. Providing this information helps keep parents in the loop in terms of content and expectations.

Also on Canvas, I house our LitFit Form (for book submissions), our independent reading program information, and a classroom handbook for families, along with other content-specific resources.

Communication: Musical and TED-Ed

I use a Canvas page as home base for the school musical program and for TED-Ed Club. On these sites, I also post information that is accessible to both students and parents such as:

  • Program handbooks

  • Audition packets

  • Tech crew applications

  • Schedules

  • Resources

  • Rehearsal videos

Parent Communication & Collaboration

My goal is team up with the families of my students and club members so that we can all work together. I want to communicate with parents to share positive news as well as to problem-solve when necessary. Through proactive communication, I can avoid parents feeling caught off guard by academic or behavioral challenges occurring at school and we can build a trusting relationship that will best serve the student.

Parent Collaboration

Teaming up with parents means inviting them to volunteer with class and program activities. This not only helps to maintain strong relationships, it also gives parents an opportunity to participate in activities that are important to their children.