Making Connections

The Importance of Introductory Calls

Starting the year with a positive connection can pave the way for successful communication throughout the school year. This isn’t just a formality; it’s an opportunity to lay a solid foundation between you, the teacher, and the parents of your students.

Let’s be honest, whether you’re a seasoned teacher or just starting out, those introductory calls can stir up a little anxiety.

So, when should you make these calls? What should you say? And most importantly, what’s the goal of this outreach?

We’ve spoken with Mrs. Rochel Zimmerman and Mrs. Chumi Levitansky from Torah Umesorah’s 3+3 New Teacher Training, and they’ve offered some fantastic insights that can help ease those nerves.

Getting Ready:

Schedule a date and time in your calendar.
Ideal timing: before the school year or early September
Decide how and when parents should contact you if the need arises, so that you can communicate this to them during the call.

Making the Call:

Make calls between 9 am and 4 pm, or between 8 and 9:30 pm.
Each call should take 2-5 minutes, though more time may be needed for certain calls.
Write a list of talking points for yourself
Keep a communication log (such as The Role Book) or a pen and paper handy to take notes during the call.
If the call goes unanswered, leave a message if possible.

Suggested Talking Points:

Introduce yourself (use your first name if comfortable).
“Hello, this is Shani Kaufman, and I will be your Shifra’s English teacher this year.”

Specify that this is a quick call and ask if this is a good time.
Share your excitement about getting to know their child
Ask about any important information regarding their child
Is he/she called by the name on the list?
What’s the best way to contact you if needed?
Is there anything that is individual to this child that would be helpful for me to know?
When the parent responds, listen in a manner that shows complete focus. Use a professional tone to ask for clarification when necessary.
Provide your contact details (best phone number and availability)
Close with a positive message (e.g., “Looking forward to a wonderful year, IYH!”)

Keeping Communication Logs:

Write down relevant information that the parent shares
- The TU Role Book is an excellent record-keeping resource.
- Best phone number to reach parents
- Preferred name for students
- Examples of important information
  - Allergies, sensitivities, health issues, medication
  - Academic, behavioral or Social concerns
  - Upcoming or recent Family changes such as move, divorce, baby, weddings
  - Professional help, therapy or tutoring that the child gets. (You may ask if they want you to be in touch with the tutor, and take down the number)
  - Seating suggestions based on any of the above.
If the parents share Anything specific for the teacher to keep tabs on, ask if they want you to reach out with updates, and how often.
For your own records, set an approximate follow-up date or date for next nachas call.

MORE TO EXPLORE

Preventing the Summer Slide

Small efforts, big impacts We know how quickly children grow when learning is consistent—and how quickly skills can fade when routines disappear for months. The “Summer Slide” is real. Children can lose foundational academic skills, and even social and emotional progress, over the break. For some, September feels less like a continuation and more like starting all over again. A few intentional moments each week throughout the summer can help reinforce and protect the skills students worked hard to master during the year. That said, summer was never meant to be a third semester. Young children still need rest, play, family time, and freedom—and the goal isn’t to push them toward new skills. It’s simply to preserve what they already know. The Balance According to one of Torah Umesorah’s leading Intervention Specialists, assigning summer homework three times a week is sufficient for maintaining students’ progress. The assignments don’t need to

What do you wish more people understood about your job?

Let Summer Refill You

If you had a quiet moment this summer, what would you want to get better at? This one isn’t for everyone. Some of you are busier in July than in January — summer jobs, kids home, camps, family. If that’s you, bookmark this for when things settle. But if you do find yourself with a quiet mid-morning once the kids are out, or a calm early evening before the night gets going — that might be exactly enough. Torah Umesorah is offering sessions built for exactly those pockets of time. As little as 20 minutes, and you walk away with something real and usable for your classroom. Live Zoom or phone sessions Scheduled during mid-morning and early evening hours, when things tend to quiet down. On your own time Recorded sessions Listen whenever works for you — folding laundry, on a walk, or with a cup of coffee.

For the Teacher Who Can’t Find the Words

For the Teacher Who Can’t Find the Words The last day of school has a feeling all its own. Backpacks bulge with the year’s worth of seforim and workbooks. The classroom looks a little bare already. Coat hooks hold one last sweater. And somewhere between the goodbyes, you find yourself wondering where the time went. And then they’re gone. Just like that, the room that held so much — the noise, the questions, the breakthroughs, the giggles — goes quiet. There’s a particular hollow feeling that settles in when the last talmidah walks out the door, a mix of pride and nostalgia that’s hard to put into words. You want to stop them on their way out. You want to tell them how much they’ve grown, how much you’ve grown, how this year meant something. But you also know — because you know them — that a heartfelt speech from