Unlike the adult learning space, kids, especially elementary kids, need something else.
One kind of newsletter listed the names of those who aced the tests and had been listening to the adults the most. The fewer there are on the list, the more special the list feels. This is the idea that the fewer people made on the list, the easier it is to stand out.
But here is another kind of newsletter. Sharing what the class has been doing for the week, every child has a small win to share with the class and their family. It's to keep parents updated on the learning progress to talk with their child and celebrate together.
The goal of our schools and classrooms isn't to make school scarce and difficult for most children to show up the next day but to encourage everyone to come back day after day with excitement and hope.
