Lesson Plan
Family Communication Toolkit
Equip 6th grade teachers to design and send a weekly family newsletter and establish a complementary digital portal tailored to middle school topics and communication needs.
Transparent, age-appropriate updates build trust with families of older students, keep them informed of complex learning goals and student progress, and foster collaboration to support adolescents’ academic growth.
Audience
6th Grade Teachers
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided template walkthrough with grade-level examples and hands-on drafting.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Newsletter Template Walkthrough and note how to adapt sections for middle school content.
- Skim the Weekly Update Template and consider examples in math, science, and ELA.
- Read the Digital Portal Setup Guide to plan parent accounts and permissions for older learners.
Step 1
Step 1: Introduce Communication Goals
5 minutes
- Explain the purpose of weekly newsletters and a digital portal for 6th grade families.
- Highlight benefits: clarity on standards-based learning goals, upcoming assessments, and project milestones.
- Share a sample middle school update (e.g., preview of ratio unit, book analysis project).
Step 2
Step 2: Explore Newsletter Template
10 minutes
- Display slides from the Newsletter Template Walkthrough.
- Walk through each section, illustrating with 6th grade content:
• Warm Greeting: “Hello Families of Ms. Lee’s 6th Grade Math Class!”
• Learning Objectives: “This week, we will apply ratios to real-world problems.”
• Activities & Highlights: “Science Lab: Investigating chemical reactions.”
• Upcoming Events: “Field Trip: Science Museum – Wednesday.” - Prompt teachers to brainstorm grade-level newsletter ideas.
Step 3
Step 3: Practice Weekly Update Creation
8 minutes
- Distribute the Weekly Update Template.
- In pairs, draft a newsletter for one week including:
• Learning objective in math or ELA (e.g., analyzing figurative language).
• Student spotlight (e.g., Jake’s insightful book critique).
• One academic activity summary and one preview of an upcoming project. - Exchange drafts for peer feedback on tone, clarity, and relevance for middle school families.
Step 4
Step 4: Plan Digital Portal Setup
5 minutes
- Review the Digital Portal Setup Guide.
- Discuss platform features important for 6th grade (e.g., assignment trackers, gradebook access).
- Outline next steps: invite families, set permissions, and schedule weekly content uploads.
Step 5
Step 5: Reflect and Close
2 minutes
- Invite each teacher to share one concrete next step (e.g., publish first grade-level newsletter, set up portal permissions).
- Confirm deadlines and channels for follow-up support.
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Slide Deck
Newsletter Template Walkthrough
Let’s explore each section of our weekly family newsletter, using examples tailored for 6th-grade audiences to keep families informed and involved.
Introduction: Explain that this walkthrough uses 6th-grade examples to engage middle-school families. Emphasize that a consistent, clear newsletter structure builds partnership and trust.
Section 1: Warm Greeting
Start with a friendly, subject-specific greeting.
Example:
“Hello Families of Ms. Lee’s 6th Grade Math & Science Scholars!”
Discuss tone: professional yet warm. Encourage personalization with subject area references and student achievements.
Section 2: Learning Objectives
Outline the week’s key learning goals in family-friendly language.
Example:
• Math: Apply ratios to map scale problems.
• ELA: Analyze themes and character motivations in short stories.
• Science: Conduct and record observations of chemical reactions.
Highlight clarity and alignment to standards. Model bullet points with grade-level learning targets.
Section 3: Activities & Highlights
Share summaries of classroom work and celebrate student contributions.
Examples:
• STEM Lab: Built and tested model volcanoes.
• ELA Workshop: Peer-reviewed persuasive essays.
• Student Spotlight: Jayden’s insightful coding project on Scratch.
Showcase rigorous, engaging activities. Include both STEM and humanities examples.
Section 4: Upcoming Events & Reminders
List key dates, deadlines, and school-wide events.
Example:
• Science Fair Proposal Due – Thursday, Oct. 14
• ELA Book Club Kick-Off – Monday, Oct. 18
• Parent-Teacher Conferences – Oct. 25 & 26
Emphasize important deadlines and events relevant to middle school families.
Design Tips & Best Practices
• Use a clear, legible font and school colors.
• Keep sections concise with distinct headings.
• Include photos or student work samples sparingly.
• Ensure mobile-friendly formatting for easy parent viewing.
Share design guidance for readability and consistency on both web and mobile.
Next Steps
Now, use the Weekly Update Template to draft your first 6th-grade newsletter.
Ready to share your draft and gather feedback?
Prompt teachers to draft using the middle-school worksheet. Invite Q&A.
Worksheet
Weekly Update Template (6th Grade)
Date: ____________________________
Teacher Name: ____________________________
1. Warm Greeting
Welcome families with a friendly introduction tailored for middle school.
Your Greeting:
2. Math Objective
Outline the week’s key math goal in family-friendly language.
• This week in Math, we will ________________________________________________
3. ELA Objective
Share the main reading or writing focus for the week.
• This week in ELA, we will ________________________________________________
4. Science Focus
Describe the science concept or investigation happening this week.
• This week in Science, we will ________________________________________________
5. Activities & Highlights
Summarize a standout classroom activity or project.
Activity Summary:
6. Student Spotlight
Celebrate a student’s achievement or contribution.
Spotlight Details:
7. Upcoming Events & Reminders
List important dates, assessments, or deadlines.
• ________________________________________________ on _____________
• ________________________________________________ on _____________
8. Visuals & Attachments (Optional)
Plan any photos, charts, or work samples to include.
• ________________________________________________
• ________________________________________________
Additional Notes
Any extra information or instructions for families.
Project Guide
Digital Portal Setup Guide
Objective: Guide 6th grade teachers to select, configure, and launch a robust digital portal—featuring assignment trackers, gradebook access, discussion boards, and weekly updates—to support adolescent learners and keep families engaged.
Audience: 6th Grade Teachers
Why This Matters: Middle school students juggle more complex projects, assessments, and deadlines. A well-configured portal offers families transparent insight into grades, upcoming assignments, and class discussions, fostering accountability and partnership.
Timeline: Approximately 2–3 weeks from planning to launch
Materials:
- Platform Comparison Chart (e.g., Google Classroom vs. School LMS vs. Edmodo)
- Newsletter Template Walkthrough
- Weekly Update Template
Instructions
Step 1: Choose Your Platform (30 minutes)
- List options: Google Classroom, School LMS, Edmodo, or a combination (e.g., Google Sites + discussion forum).
- Compare key features:
• Assignment Tracker & Gradebook visibility
• Mobile app access and notifications
• Built-in discussion boards or chat functions
• Privacy controls for middle school users - Select the platform(s) that align with your school’s tech and family needs.
Step 2: Create Accounts & Set Permissions (45 minutes)
- Register or request teacher/admin access.
- Invite students and families, ensuring student accounts remain private.
- Configure permissions:
• Grant families “viewer” access to grades and announcements.
• Enable discussion board participation or comments (optional).
• Set moderation settings to protect student safety.
Step 3: Plan Your Portal Structure (1 hour)
- Define main sections:
- Home: Welcome message and quick links
- Announcements & Weekly News: Embed weekly newsletters
- Assignments & Grades: Live tracker or gradebook view
- Resources: Handouts, tutorials, and extension activities
- Discussion Board (Optional): Topic threads or Q&A
- Contact & Support: Office hours, feedback form
- Sketch a site map or navigation menu to ensure intuitive flow.
Step 4: Design & Populate Core Pages (2 hours)
- Home Page: Brief intro, navigation buttons, and portal norms.
- Announcements & Weekly News:
• Link or embed your Weekly Update Template newsletters.
• Archive past updates by date or topic. - Assignments & Grades:
• Post upcoming assignments with due dates.
• Display grade summaries or individual student access points. - Discussion Board:
• Create threads for upcoming projects or study groups.
• Set clear guidelines for respectful interactions. - Resources:
• Upload lesson slides, cheat sheets, and enrichment links. - Contact & Support:
• Provide teacher email, preferred communication times, and a short survey or feedback form.
Step 5: Create a Content & Update Schedule (30 minutes)
- Decide on a weekly publication day (e.g., Monday morning).
- Align assignment postings and grade updates (e.g., Fridays).
- Use a shared calendar or spreadsheet to track content deadlines.
Step 6: Train Students & Families & Launch (30 minutes + ongoing)
- Send a tutorial email to families with step-by-step login instructions and portal overview.
- Host a 10-minute demo during a class or virtual meeting:
• Navigate between sections
• View assignments and grades
• Post or reply in discussion boards (if enabled)
• Access past newsletters - Encourage families to bookmark the portal and set notification preferences.
Step 7: Maintain & Iterate (Ongoing)
- Schedule 10–15 minutes weekly to:
• Upload the latest newsletter
• Post new assignments and update grades
• Moderate discussion boards - Collect monthly feedback via a brief survey:
• What’s helpful?
• What could be improved? - Refine layout, add new features (e.g., calendar integration), and troubleshoot access issues.
By following these steps, you’ll build a dynamic, adolescent-friendly portal that complements your weekly newsletters and empowers families to stay informed and involved in their child’s 6th grade journey.