Artifact 5B: Monthly Newsletters NBPTS Standards- Proposition 5 Standard: Teachers Are Members of Learning Communities Rationale:

I believe that the relationship that is built between parents and teachers is the strongest foundation that can occur. If there is a solid ground for communicating and connecting built between the home and school, then students have a much higher chance of success. To create this community and partnership of concern, monthly newsletters are used to keep parents informed and on top of the continuous workings of the classroom and celebrates where we have been as a class and where we are going next. Reection: Newsletters are used as the common thread to link what we are doing at school each day to what is being discussed and worked on at home. I believe that in preparing a monthly letter, and by keeping parents updated, I am creating a partnership with them. I feel that this helps both myself and the parents of my students to feel as though we are working together and striving for a common goal. I also feel as though consistent communication creates and establishes a community of support for everyone that is involved, students, parents and teachers!