Starting the Year off Right

So I began this year with the end in mind. I am attempting to prove that if the teacher takes the time to make contact and truely get to know the parents of students that evidence of this will appear in the form of increased academic awareness.  The school year began with a bang and I have 22 students enrolled in my first grade class. I volunteered to do registration this year in the hopes that I would get to meet some of my parents early. This was the first year that we had a meet the teacher night in which allowed parents to drop off school supplies prior to the first day of school. It went great I thought I had 9 parents out of 22 show up. So with in the first week of school I was determined to make contact with all my parents. I did so through the use of post cards. It was nothing extravagent just a Welcome to Ms. Garrett's class with a little personnal message about what I have witnessed about that their child so far. All POSITIVE! I also sent home reminders and made a few phone calls to notify parents about the upcoming Open House on September 4th. To my surprise I had 15 parents show up. I then spoke about my plans for this year and the rigor that will be involved as well as how I would love parent volunteers and all their support will be greatly appreciated and welcomed. It was then that many parents expressed their willingness to help but did not want to come and make copies or laminate, and definitaly not decorate. Don't get me wrong their were a few that wanted to come and just decorate and make copies.  I explained to my parents that I will be utilizing them in the classroom. I plan to have a parent night for just my parents in which I will have make and take nights. This will help my class parents get to know each other and get them involved with their childs academics and help them increase their knowledge in which hopefully will empower them.