Communication Log Sheets?

[PaigesMom]

Does anyone have any examples they could share? Or, if no actual examples, could you type what questions/information is on yours? Thanks!!

Debbie

[Emilysmom]

I don't remember how old Paige is now, but we started using a very plain form that simply had 4 questions:

The best thing that happened today: (could be "what I liked today")

The worst thing that happened today: (could be "what I did not like today")

What I ate today"

I need to remember for tomorrow: (usually included something she needed to bring, where they were going to do, etc)

Most things we wanted to know about Em's day fit into one of those questions. I still have them, and read them from time to time! She actually wrote many of them herself, so it was really cool to read how she felt about her day.........considering that she never really wanted to talk about her day.
Prior to that, we simply had a notebook that went back and forth from home to school. I wrote things that happened at home and the aide wrote about anything significant that happened at school. One thing we had to stay on top of, was helping the aide see that it was not to be used to "tattle" on anything negative Emily did at school. There were tons of cool things she did during the day, and yet........I'd get journal entries that focused on the fact that she couldn't seem to keep her face clean that day, etc.

Susan

[meghans_mom]

Thanks for bringing up this subject....Susan, that's a great point about having the aide see that it was not to be used to "tattle" on anything negative. I find I get that a little too much. The aide is great and has such high hopes for Meghan but I tell you, sometimes I hear things I dont want to [or shouldn't]
Looking forward to hearing more about this thread - laurie

[Connie]

Laurie,

I have posted on here about the bad behaviors Collin is having in school. When, Collin started this school I wrote/emailed them and told them I really wanted to be involved with Collin at school including the bad and the ugly but, I told them they just couldn't give me all the bad things that for my own sanity I had to have them tell me something good he did that day even if it was he went to the bathroom by himself.

I think we have to make them include good things or they just get to focused on the bad and that's all they see.

We use a note book but, if the teacher are busy they just attach a 1/2 sheet of preprinted paper that has either a ;D , , or and they mark the appropriate one and if they have time jot a small note.

I am finding that communication folders are helpful to us as parents they can be overwhelming to teachers because our little angels and not their only responsibility and there are just not enough hours in the day for them to get everything done.

Connie

[Chester]

Thanks for all the ideas. I've been watching this one too. I'm starting "something" on Monday, not quite sure what it will look like yet. I really liked having a few sentences started that the teacher/aide fill in. I also think letting the teachers know that they're pushed for time a quick face is a.o.k. with me.

I'm sure it will change as the year progresses!
Dawn

[Kristin]

Clarice's teacher does a happy, straight, or sad face each day coupled with a quick comment. It is quick, and let's me know overall how her day went. If I need more detail, she either calls or e-mails me.

[angela2]

I made up a check list for Brandon. The teacher made copies and sends one home every day.
It has some yes/no questions, like did he attempt to use potty..(circle Y or N)....did he take a nap...etc.
It also has other areas where the teacher can circle "good", "poor" etc...like how he did at lunch or circle time.
I sat with the teacher for about 5 minutes and worked out what we should put on there. So far I have made a few modifications but it seems to be working out. I wanted something the teachers could fill out quickly so they would be more likely to actually do it!
There is also a spot where the teacher can circle whether he had OT, PT etc. on that day.
I can email a copy to you if you like.

[ALLISA]

Ours is pretty involved.....it is 2 sided....broken into caztegories.

Circle Time...they tell me what songs she does so we can repeat @ home
Story time.....again tell me what she read so we can re-inforce @ home
AM Work Time....what did she work on & how did she do
Therapies....what did she have, how did she do
Snack...eat all ? eat neatly ? LOL
Lunch...eat all ?
Outdoor time....who did she play with and what did she do
Afternoon Work Sessions.....what did she work on & how did she do
Potty....only tell me if she had accidents
Behaviors....this is the worst box....they have head banging, throwing, hitting,and hair pulling...put tally marks next to any behaviors she had ...IF she had any

and a place for me to write bacvk in the mornings....

How did I sleep ?
What did I do yesterday after school/over weekened
Something important teacher should know

I HTINK that is it....I'l have to get her form and see if I missed anything....it is TOTALLY helpful to me as Erin is basically non-verbal and she takes a bus to school so I very rearely get to chat with teachers !

[lespring]

One thing to keep in mind, is it's VERY important for the classroom TEACHER to be filling out your communication sheets or your notebook. (we use a notebook) It's particularly easy for a mainstream teacher to loose track of what's going on with our kids when the aid is the one doing the communication. Remember, the student is the responsibility of the TEACHER, and not the aid or para. This is one lesson I learned the hard way. The teacher DOES have 2 minutes in her day to fill out the communication sheets.

[kwisteena1021]

We have a binder that the techer tapes a chart too every week. Kallie's day is divided into four areas. She has a chance to get a total of 4 stickers for that day, if she gets the four stickers she gets a choice of playing on the swing set or watching a movie. The teacher knows her options so that she can discuss them with her if Kallie starts to act up. If Kallie is struggling with something, having a bad day, the teacher wants me to work on something specific, etc she writes me a note. Sometimes even to tell me sweet little things that happened that day. Not every teacher is like this. Last year it was hard to get a good picture of Kallie's day and her behavior, cause if she had one attitude then she got a mark off for the entire day. I would say just work to get something that is clear and breaks up the day so you know when and where he/she is having problems and you can look back and see a pattern to address issues as they come up. Good luck!

[andrewsmom]

Now see....this is why I love this site!!

I put a notebook in Andrew's backpack for his teacher to use as a communication log. Well, the notebook is still sitting in his backpack .....totally empty! Now I have a much better idea of how to use this book to both our benefits. Thanks so much guys!!!!!

-Trisha

[chasesmom]

I started the daily "journal" with Chase's preschool teacher and got really spoiled by her....she was wonderful and spent every day jottig down what he did, ate, behaviors, good and bad, but she always made the bad never seem so awful (I think she was in love with the boy ) and so when we moved on and I had a terrible time getting the kdg teacher using it and found the aide doing the writing with nothing but negatives, I turned to Chase's TC who made a great form which asked a bunch of questions, much like Allisa's questions and gave the teacher directions to do it every day at the end of the day and no more aide. As the direction came from the TC I had no more issues getting the daily news about Chase and it worked so well I just had her be the one to explain to the teachers every year. This year however he has a great new teacher at his new program and he neede no direction, we write back and forth every day, no form, just a notebook.

[CC]

When Chris started Pre-School the Teach just sent home a Composition Note Book from the get go that we both would write in daily. She would share how his day went and i would share what was new from home or anything else that I felt might be important. In the early years, Chris had a one on one assistant and she too would jot down a note. Worked so well that we carried it over and had another one with his ST. Actually for me and the problems Chris has with speech that was my favorite as it really turned out to be more of a way for us to carry over at home what they were doing during the day ;D

This carried on yearly and always the Teach sent the communication book home to us on the first day of school.

We didn't have a sheet just kind of a daily note/communication bout the day between home and school

I loved it and suggest it for ALL ;D

For me I asked PLEASE don't hold back, tell me ALL the good the bad and the whatever cause I needed to know in order to help Chris, KWIM

Just my thoughts, I think the charts are good BUT I kind of like the free writing bout how the day went as for me I get a clearer picture.

CC ~

[briarsmom]

Where I work we call them daily notes. Our being a day care for special needs goes like this

Today I had a great, good, fair ,bad day. We circle one.

Today at breakfast I ate some, a little, most , all or none.
Same for lunch and snack.

We have a place for us to write something about the child. We alway try to be positive. I as a parent know my childs "bad habits" So we keep it positive.

Then we allso include what therapy they had that day and if they need any supplies.

Lori