Context: This newsletter was created for CI 3750, Integrating Media and Technology into the classroom, Spring 2007, under the instruction of Jeff Goodman.  This was an activity in which I created a newsletter about myself, which will be used once I begin my practicum in the school system.  It is a way for me to learn about, and form relationships with, my students.

Impact: I have created this newsletter in order to better communicate with my students.  As a teacher, I want to be respected, but I do not want my students to feel that I am not approachable for any questions they may have.  I want them to feel that they can confide in me, and sharing things about myself is a great way to start to build that trust.  The newsletter also includes a place for my students to tell me something about themselves.  I think that in order to be an effective teacher, one should know about the students, first and foremost.  If the teacher is in tune with their students' likes and interests, then that teacher will be better able to reach those students.

This newsletter was created using Microsoft Publisher, which will be very useful to me throughout my teaching profession.  This program allows me to create newsletter like this one for parents, to inform them about what is going on in my classroom, it can also be used to make brochures (or to have the students make brochures), calendars, and certificates.

Alignment:

NC Standards for Elementary School Teachers

Standard 16: Elementary teachers develop as leaders in their schools and communities by staying informed about educational policy issues and supporting professional development.  Elementary teachers participate in co-curricular activities, provide leadership in student and curriculum involvement, and connect these activities to the development of citizenship ideals in their students. 
      Indicator 3- Teachers communicate with parents, guardians, and caretakers to build partnerships between home and school.
            This standard was met, because this newsletter was created in order to tell my new students and their parents about myself.  It also provided a place for my students to tell me about themselves.  I will first be using this newsletter as a student teacher, but it can also be used as a first year teacher, or at the beginning of every new year.  The newsletter concept can be modified and used monthly or weekly in order to keep parents informed as to the goings on of their child's class.

NETS-T Technology Standards-

Standard V. Teachers use technology to enhance professional practice:
      C- Apply technology to increase productivity
              I met this standard by creating the newsletter using Microsoft Publisher and passing it out to my students.  This newsletter will inform parents and students about everything that is going to be going on in our classroom.  This increases productivity by saving time.  Instead of me, as a teacher, sending home 30 different reminders to parents, they will all be organized neatly and accessible in one place.

      D- Use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community in order to nurture student learning.  
             This standard was met because the newsletter will be used as a source of information for both students and parents.  During the creation of this project, I had my newsletter read and critiqued by my peers, in order to help give me better ideas of how to improve it.