On Wednesday, Theadora gets to meet her kindergarten teacher. We get to show up, me with all 4 of the kids, drop off her supplies and asnwer any questions the teacher may have. You would think I have a mile-long list of questions, but I don’t. I don’t know what to as at this point, that will come later, once school has started. And yet, I do have hopes and dreams for Thea and I hope I get to express that to her teacher.
This realization made me remember that I need to include my 7th grade parents’ voice in my back to school preparation. That yes, I may be planning awesome things for my first days of schools, and that yes I may be teaching students at an age of more independence from parents. But parents still need to have a voice in our classroom.
So I created my hopes and dreams survey. One simple question to get their feedback, to guide me as I prepare. Don’t forget to tap into parent knowledge. Don’t forget to reach out, even if you think their child is too old for you to ask. I don’t think any parent ever stops dreaming for their child, don’t forget to ask.
PS: In 5th grade, I used this
I am a passionate teacher in Wisconsin, USA, who has taught 4, 5th, and 7th grade. Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day. First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press. Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.
Pernille Ripp 
I think this is a wonderful idea! 🙂 At my meet-and-greet I ask parents a question similar to that one along with asking for 3 adjectives to describe their child. I LOVE reading their responses.
Hi Pernille, Tx for the many ways your posts have guided me as a teacher new to techno risk taking! I noticed a typo on your 7th grade parent survey…The first parent response entry “your” name. I hope you don’t mind my sharing…I kind of think of typos as “Broccoli in my teeth”. We need to have each other’s backs!
Fondly, Lori
Sent from my iPhone
>
I send a similar letter home the first day letting the students know that their parents have homework for the first week. Similar to the fifth grade note.
In addition I will meet with each family for 15 minutes to hear their hopes & dreams during the first few weeks,
Thank you for sharing the 5th grade form. I am planning to give something similar to parents this week at Open House. Your form has additional questions that I would love to ask.