Pro Tip: Using Freckle to keep families informed

Keeping families informed about a child's progress is vital towards helping a student reach their full potential. However, it's difficult to make sure that families know exactly how their students are progressing. It can be time-consuming and often gets pushed to the back of our list of priorities. When you finally need to schedule a family-teacher conference, the family may be frustrated that you didn't communicate any struggles with their child earlier in the year when they could have acted immediately to quell the problems. With Freckle, you can keep families well-informed about a student's progress and performance in math.

This topic will cover:

• How to use the Report Card page to keep families updated on student progress
• How to set up a family-teacher conference to discuss student progress
• How to use Freckle data at a family-teacher conference to support your claims and make next steps

Keeping Families Updated on Student Progress with Report Cards

1. Have students take the pre-test test in each domain.
   
   By having students take the diagnostic test in each domain, you are giving families the most information available. Rather than only focusing on a particular domain, give them the whole picture by making sure each student has been leveled and placed in all domains.
   
   
2. Give students time to practice Freckle independently.
   
   Before you send home Report Cards, give students time to practice Freckle independently. Many students struggle slightly more than usual on the diagnostic tests, so give them time to prove what they know with independent practice sessions.
   
   
3. Go to the Report Card page in the Teacher Home.
   
   In order to share report cards with families, you will need to print the reports for the families. Select Reports in the left sidebar, then Math, and then select Report Cards. From there, you have the option to print all report cards to send home with your students.

Showing Families their Student Needs Support

1. Call the family to set up a conference on the day you send home Report Cards.
   
   By calling the family the same day that you send home the Report Card, you already have a talking point. Make sure that you state how you would like to set up a meeting to discuss how you can work together in order to ensure their child gets the most out of math class. This way, the conference isn't framed around the shortcomings of a student, but the next steps needed to improve.
   
   
2. At the conference, start by discussing the Report Card.
   
   Start by discussing the Report Card that was sent home. Answer any questions that the family has and explain what each part of the Report Card means.
   
   Students who are performing below their peers may not have even started working on standards at grade level. For this reason, you may want to print out other grade level report cards that better show the student's progress.
   
   
3. Use the Matrix view for each domain to show the family where the student falls within each particular domain compared to grade level and peer performance (blot out student names).
   
   The Matrix view, found in Reports → Math → Class Grouping report after expanding a domain, can be used to support your claim that a student is behind their peers, and will need lots of help to catch up. If you plan to use the Matrix in a conference, make sure you block out all student names! You cannot share other student data with families, and this should only be used as a way to demonstrate to a family where a child is working compared to peers.
   
   
   
   You can remove the names of students using a computer program (such as Photoshop or Paint) and "painting" over the names, or you could print out the matrix and cross off student names so they aren't visible. As you can see above, this Matrix view shows just how far behind Hayes is in the Measurement & Data domain, and can be a powerfully visual to illustrate to Hayes' family that he needs extra support. 
   
   
4. Draw up a plan for all stakeholders—student, family and teacher.
   
   Now that families are aware he is behind, draw up a plan for how to improve. Each stakeholder (student, family and teacher) should leave the conference with clear next steps. Maybe the family will start working with Hayes on his math homework each night, Hayes will start to focus more during math, and the teacher will show up early or stay late to tutor Hayes. No one should ever leave a conference wondering what comes next.
   
   Sample Next Steps for Teacher
   
   
   • Come in early or stay late to tutor a student
   • Create a daily progress report (simply a smiley or frowny face works) to recognize student work and effort that day—signed by the family
   • Research resources that a student can use in class and at home to improve
   • Hold weekly phone calls or meetings with a student and their family to monitor progress
   • Print out notes or other lesson materials for a student to use at home
     
     
   Sample Next Steps for Student
   
   
   • Pay more attention during independent practice and math lessons
   • Complete all homework by the time it is due
   • If you don't know how to solve a problem, ask someone for help instead of guessing
   • Set goals for what you want to accomplish this school year
   • Spend at least 15 minutes a day practicing math skills—including weekends
     
     
   Sample Next Steps for the Family
   
   
   • Check student's homework after they complete it each night
   • Help student to complete homework each night
   • Practice flash cards with student at home throughout the week
   • Limit for how much television/video games a student has access to throughout the week
   • Keep in closer contact with the teacher about how the student is progressing at home