Standard 2 of the NAEYC Standards for early childhood education educators states that candidates should be able to successfully build meaningful relationships with the families of their students and the community as a whole. Educators should know, understand, and value these families and communities for their importance and their differences. Educators should be able to create respectful and reciprocal relationships to involve and empower families so that they may help their students.

Sub-Standard 2A emphasizes the importance of being well educated about the characteristics of the local community and its families. By understanding the community and the families of the students in the classroom, educators will be better equipped to teach their students and engage them in meaningful ways.

This is a letter created with the intention of practicing communicating with the parents and guardians of students. The purpose of letters such as these is to reach out to parents in a non-threatening way that will let them know not only give them contact information and what you as an educator are all about, but also how they as guardians are an important element to their students success. By creating letters such as these not only at the begining of the year, but as the year goes on, parents are far more likely to be open to helping their students and cooperating with the teacher.

Sub-Standard 2c emphasizes the importance of keeping families and communities involved and knowledgeable in their student's educational lives. This not only will help keep guardians informed, but will help them to continue their child's education at home.

The purpose of this newsletter is to bring attention to a fundraiser that was being held for a fifth grade class trip. Instead of using a simple flyer format, a newsletter was chosen as a means of communicating more information. I felt it was important to stress the fundraiser as well as draw attention to the many events taking place in October, including National Book Month. This newsletter is a valuable tool for keeping families informed and involved in their student's academic lives. Letters such as these can be used to address issues, advertise, as well as send home tips to parents on ways that they can help make the most out of school for their children.