How to Create Classroom Newsletters With Ease
Weekly classroom newsletters can be extremely tedious to create, painfully actually, so are they really worth it?
I am going to show you how I create my WEEKLY classroom newsletters, taking the pain out of the process, using 1-page templates and some reoccurring content.
Let’s get started!
Classroom Newsletters Are Your Information HUB
Your newsletter is your primary source of information in the classroom. Classroom newsletter topics may be:
- Learning objectives & topics
- Some parents will reinforce these at home, it’s a win-win!
- Reminders for the week/month/year
- Ex) Read every night, send in book bags daily, practice sight words for 5 minutes tonight, etc.
- Schedule for the week
- Special events coming up, dues dates for school/classroom materials
- I always included our specials schedule with reminders to send in library books and wear sneakers for Gym
- Classroom donations that are needed
- Classroom snacks, ziplock bags, craft materials, extra snacks, small water bottles, etc.
- Answers to common parent questions
- This eliminates repeat email and phone call questions!
- Add additional pages as needed.
- I include a photo of our Classroom Charter (part of RULER Emotional Intelligence), bulletin board displays, classroom work walls, photos of kids in action during various times of the day and on special days (with parent permission). Parents LOVE to see photos of their children in school!
- Link to the school or district newsletter – Sometimes emails and information get lost, when it is in multiple places, it is more difficult to miss.
Parent Communication For Teachers
As a parent, I have experienced knowing NOTHING about what my child is doing in his kindergarten classroom. I found myself constantly wondering what learning topics they are working on, does he complete work, and what can I work with him on at home…? When I ask my son what he did in school, I get the famous, “Nothing”. You all know what I am talking about!
Proactive parent communication is a MUST for building a foundation of trust and community. Parent newsletters provide parents with not only the learning objectives, schedule, events, and reminders but also provide talking points for them and their children at home.
Common parent questions, such as:
- Which day is school spirit?
- What time is early dismissal?
- When do I send in library books?
- How long does my child need to read at night?
- What sight words are you learning this week?
These frequently asked questions, plus more, are answered in weekly newsletters!
Bye-bye repetitive parent emails and phone calls! You don’t have the time for them and neither do busy parents!
All information up front is KEY! 🔑
When Do I Create & Send My Classroom Weekly Newsletter
There are so many options, and it is all what works for you in your classroom and personal life (we all know teachers work beyond classroom hours!)
I create my classroom newsletter as I am creating my plans for the following week. That way, the content is fresh in my mind and doesn’t seem like extra work.
Other Ways Weekly Classroom Newsletters Are Fantastic
- Teacher Evaluations
- My principal LOVES the weekly classroom newsletters. I include her on BCC in my weekly newsletter email and she can CHECK OFF effective parent communication on my evaluation. As a long story short, she doesn’t need to look any further!
- Communication with Special Education and other special area teachers.
- Reinforcement of classroom skills is key for this group of kiddos.
- Keeps me aligned with my plans for the upcoming week
- Directs my planning and prep to the necessary
Templates For Classroom Newsletters Make Your Life Easier
You don’t need anything fancy to create weekly classroom newsletters for parents. A simple email will do. I use a template that I just need to update and alter parts of it each week. Some information will stay the same week to week. Check out an up-close of one of my newsletters for my kindergarten classroom.
Classroom Newsletter Sample
Your classroom newsletters not only make your teaching life easier, but they also take your teacher-to-parent communication to the next level! (A bonus for evaluations!)
FREE Classroom Newsletter Template
Download a free newsletter template to try it out. If you like it, I have other monthly newsletters available.
If you are interested in checking out my classroom newsletter templates, click the image below to view them on TpT.
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