The kind of information you're seeking from teachers has two venues in our school. First, on teacher/class websites; and second, in PTO minutes. One of the positions on our Executive Board is 3rd Vice President and is a teacher (appointed by the principal). The 3rd VP collects the info from all the teachers and prepares a report which she gives at the meeting. In addition, a timely and interesting classroom or curriculum presentation is highlighted at each meeting- everything from demo lessons by teachers (instructional strategies, use of technology, new curriculum projects) to student project presentations, e.g., this month a teacher brought 4 students to share the powerpoint project they recently completed on comparative literature using music. Another possibility- we publish a newsletter that is written by the students. Each newsletter has a theme and students choose from a list of potential topics/questions or have their own approved. They have about two weeks to research, interview, etc and submit an article by email. Our Newsletter Chair then assembles the articles on Publisher. Your teachers might respond to their students!

"As a parent, this was my favorite part of the newsletter, not only did it enable me to see what was happening (and what would be expected in the upcoming weeks) in my child's classes, but I would look at the grades ahead and see what the teachers were doing . . .you know, kinda get an idea on what teachers were really excited about teaching and which ones were there to collect a paycheck . . . "

Yikes--maybe that is part of their reluctance--teachers may not want that type of scrutiny by folks...plus I agree the time thing plays a HUGE part of it. If there is a website with a homework page perhaps you could look to that or our school's teacher put out one page sheets to parents that tell them what is going on in the coming months. Perhaps you could get a parent from each classroom to support by throwing one or two you way.

I've never had that aspect in our newsletter and it is routinely 8 pages long so I cannot say that I miss knowing that information. Maybe a chat with the principal and some boss emphasis will assist as well.

good luck
d

Hi, I'm not sure how often your newsletter comes out monthly? What our school does is every other month they split the grades. One month it is K-3 and the next it is 4-6 with gym and music and art happenings. We also have more than one of each grade doing the same curriculum so the teacher's take turns doing the newsletter. Our PTA does not include it inour newsletter it is a separate one sent out by the principal. The PTA newsletter consists of only our activities and events to keep families informed as well as a calendar of school events. Teacher's are so busy they may not have the extra time to write something up. Maybe the principal at a staff meeting could ask if they want to take part in it. If not then you won't be wasting your time and energy and you could just focau on PTA activities. Good Luck with your newsletter.

If anyone has any good ideas here, I would love to know, too! We've had very little to no input from the staff at our school either. It's not that they don't care....Think they just get short on time and it slips their mind. Maybe just approach one or two each time and see what they are covering in the next month. It could be a science experiment, new student, show & tell....anything. Maybe a PTO person could go to that class that specific day and get a pic or info. Our newsletter content comes directly from us by just keeping up on school happenings. Our PTO secretary will take pics from time to time and add captions in the newsletter. (Spelling Bee, Relay, Fundraiser winners) We also share ideas at meetings. It's definitely a group effort but the outcome is so nice!

Hi everyone I haven't been in for quite some time, been busy with everyday life . . . I am in need of a bit of guidance today, however. I've taken over the Newsletter for our school, which has really fallen to the wayside over the past few years. So I'm trying to resussitate it. In the past, we've had great teacher input, almost every teacher in the building would prepare a little "article" about what was happening in their classrooms. As a parent, this was my favorite part of the newsletter, not only did it enable me to see what was happening (and what would be expected in the upcoming weeks) in my child's classes, but I would look at the grades ahead and see what the teachers were doing . . .you know, kinda get an idea on what teachers were really excited about teaching and which ones were there to collect a paycheck . . . anyway, I really feel that including this type of information is a great way for parents, who aren't in the school as much as the PTO members, to feel like they are still "insiders".
This being said, I am having the MOST DIFFICULT time getting these same teachers to share their class "happenings" . . . I don't know how to get them motivated to take part in the newsletter again. I've even set it up so they can email their information instead of having to write it down, but I still only get a handful of replies (and usually all from the Pre-K through 1st grade) I have one 5th grade teacher who randomly takes part, but that's it. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can persuade more teachers to get involved?