Using Newsletters to Create Home–School Connections

Newsletters are often used in classrooms as a link between school and home. Too often though, newsletters flow only one way—from school to home—to inform parents of events, expectations, and classroom practices. Although this can be an effective and efficient method for keeping parents abreast of the academic life of the classroom, it misses an opportunity to contribute to a home–school partnership. When thoughtfully created, teacher‐initiated newsletters benefit children, parents, and teachers alike. Teachers can actively communicate information to parents, but parents can also have the opportunity to feel connected to their children's lives inside the classroom. When a partnership between the home and school is created, children see a mutual respect develop. This article explains the benefits of using a regular classroom newsletter and provides suggestions for the creation of an effective newsletter.