An area where organization is especially critical is in keeping track of student progress. As a professional educator, you are expected to keep accurate, current, comprehensive records of what students are doing in your classroom. Your school and district probably have strict policies about your grade book that you can find out about by asking an administrator. Whether you keep an electronic or a paper grade book, establish a routine for the safekeeping of all data related to your students. In organizing your grade book, it is important that you consider several issues and plan well in advance of entering the first grade in your records. For tips on organizing your grade book and helping students track their own progress, click here. Once you establish a system of recording and managing student grades and create opportunities for students to track their own progress, you need to also consider how you will communicate all this information to parents and caregivers. Should you contact a parent if a student fails a test? How often should you report to parents about student progress? What makes the most sense to present to parents about their child's classroom work? These are questions that vary with the situation and the answers rely somewhat on your professional judgment and experience with parents. Establish early on with parents a working method of communication. You may require students to return graded tests with parent signatures. You may also report test scores in relationship to other assessments and grades in a regularly scheduled progress note. However, pay close attention to those students who are not doing well. If you suspect a parent is not getting accurate information, take the time to contact them, especially early on when their input and support can influence student motivation and performance. As you become more familiar with your students and the quality of work they are capable of doing, you will have a better understanding of how to communicate with them and their parents. You may be required to send home progress reports throughout the year. Find out in advance when those are to be prepared and how they are to be sent home. Consider creating a parent tip sheet to provide parents suggestions on how they might best help their child in your class.