September 26, 2016

Dear Families,
As you may already know, I am a graduate student in the Department of Early and Middle Grades
Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, working toward my M.Ed. in Early Childhood.
For the final requirement of my Masters degree program, I will be conducting a classroom action
research assignment. Challenges, both small and large, facing children and their families affect students
within the classroom. As a classroom teacher, it is my job to make sure that all students feel safe and
supported in school each day, but in some situations, other outside resources may also be needed to best
support families through difficult times. Through my research, I hope to understand how classroom
teachers can best support children and families through challenging situations.
For the next six weeks, I would like to include you and your child (and all of my families and students in
the NYU Bobcat room) in my research project on supporting children and family through challenges. At
no point will you or your students be asked to share what challenges you are facingyou will simply be
asked if you feel supported, and how I, as your childs classroom teacher, and the school can better
support you throughout the year.
During a six week period, you and your child will be asked to complete a survey about what supports, if
any, would be beneficial throughout the school year. I will also reach out to some guardians and some
children to conduct informal interviews regarding how supported they currently feel by their classroom
teacher and by the school, and what additional supports, if any, they would like to access. In addition to
these surveys and interviews, I will be maintaining a reflective journal throughout these six weeks in
order to see what changes can be made within our classroom to better support our children and our
families.
All data that I collect (surveys, interviews, reflective notes) will be kept confidential and no references to
childrens names or family members names will be used in my work.
I do not anticipate any risk greater than normal school life. Your child's participation in this project is
completely voluntary. Support offered to any family who is participating in this survey will also be
offered to families who chose to opt out of the survey. Those children who are participants in my
research will be observed and interviewed throughout the school day, and there will be no disruption to
their normal school day. If you choose for your child to not participate she or he will simply not be
interviewed and observations of her/his experiences during nature based play will not be recorded or used
in my research and course work. The choice to participate or not will not impact your childs grades or
status at school in any way. You may withdraw your consent for your child to participate at any time, with
no penalty.
All information that is obtained during this research project will be kept strictly secure and will not
become a part of your child's school record. Your childs name and any other information concerning

his/her identity will be deleted from the research information. Your childs confidentiality is most
important and every effort will be made to insure that this research remains confidential at all times.
The results of this study will be used for an online website that is required in my course, Early Childhood
Researcher, in the College of Education at WCU. Pseudonyms or codes will be substituted for the names
of children and the school. This helps protect confidentiality. The website is a private site, viewable by
myself, my classmates and my professor only.

In the space at the bottom of this letter, please indicate whether or not you allow your child to
participate in this project. Participation includes the use written observations, informal
interviews, and survey results with families and children. Family surveys will be sent during the
fall as well. Simply return your survey if you wish to allow your responses to be included in my
research. Simply discard the survey if you choose not to participate.
Please return one copy of this completed form as soon as possible. The second copy is to keep
for your records. If you have any questions about this research project, please feel free to contact
me. Please keep a copy of this form for your records.
Sincerely,
Kelly Chapman
******************************************************************************
________ I agree to allow my child to participate in the informal interview and observations regarding
how children can best be supported during challenging situations . I understand there is no risk to my
child and that I may withdraw my consent at any time, without penalty.
________ I would rather my child not participate in the interviews and observations. I understand that this
decision will not negatively impact my childs status or participation in school experiences.
Parents signature and date:
_________________________________________________________________________________
If you have any questions about your childs participation or this research project, please contact me at
our school phone or email address.