Strategy: Parent Letters

Albuquerque teacher Clara Gonzales-Espinoza asks her parents to write her a letter at the beginning of each school year telling her about the child's personality, interests, strengths, and anything else they think she should know. Not only does she establish a relationship with the parent on a positive note, she gathers useful information that can have a significant impact in the classroom, such as indications of a child's illness or a recent divorce. In this interview, Clara speaks more about this strategy and its impact on her relationships with parents and students.