Providing Access to Curriculum Resources
First, parents should be able to see printed information about the curriculum and relevant books, articles, or other references they can read or review at any time. If a purchased curriculum is being used, samples of teacher resource books, printed assessment materials, and examples of print materials that children use should be accessible at school for parents to view.
Teachers who develop their own curricula should make a description of the approach or model and assessment system available in writing. An organized notebook of print resources, such as articles that inform the curriculum and examples of children’s activities, can help parents understand its goals. A specific location for resource information should be created that is clearly designated for parent/family/community use. If a separate room is not available, this space could be in the entry or reception area, a book rack in a hallway or office, or in classroom observation areas if the site is so equipped.
The point is that parents need to sense that you want to share information about curriculum with them, that you make an effort to do so, and that the information you provide is current and accurate. If at all manageable, a circulating or lending system can reach family members who can’t get to the resource location.