“Parents are people, people with children”

PARENT COMMUNICATION

METHODS OF COMMUNICATIONMETHODS OF COMMUNICATION

•Phone

•Email

• In Person

WHICH METHOD IS THE BEST?WHICH METHOD IS THE BEST?

IN PERSON,whenever possible

THE CONVERSATION – THE CONVERSATION – IN PERSON OR ON THE PHONEIN PERSON OR ON THE PHONE

• Beginning

•Middle

• Ending

• BE SURE ALL PARTIES ARE ON THE SAME PAGE

COMMUNICATION BY EMAILCOMMUNICATION BY EMAIL

1. Introduction2. Short/Specific3. Positive Comment4. Challenge5. Non-emotional6. Conference Time7. Be Understanding8. Partner for Student Success9. End Positively

HINTS: COMMUNICATION BY EMAILHINTS: COMMUNICATION BY EMAIL

•Promptness

•Parent Comments

IDEAS FOR MEETING PARENTS

•Listen•Positive/Hopeful•Humble• ‘Educationalize’• Involve•Excitement•Promises?

WHAT PARENTS EXPECT FROM YOU

•My Child•Clear Expectations•Curriculum•Availability•Volunteer

WHAT PARENTS EXPECT FROM YOU

•Safety•Success •Fair and Consistent•Alert Me•Ask My Advice

DIFFERENT KINDS OF PARENTSDIFFERENT KINDS OF PARENTS

• The Over-Involved Parent (Helicopter Parent)

• The Under-Involved Parent• The Over-Familiar Parent• The Over-Impressed Parent• The Over-to-You Parent• The Overwhelmed Parent

CONFERENCING TIPSCONFERENCING TIPS

• Dress• Treatment• Seating• Organization• Materials• Friendly• Body Language• Clear Purpose

CONFERENCING TIPS (CONT.)CONFERENCING TIPS (CONT.)

• State facts•Maintain two-way

communication• Don’t compare students• Gather background information• DOCUMENT• Share samples of work• Climate of conference

THE RIGHT AND WRONG WORDSTHE RIGHT AND WRONG WORDS

Use ThisShown he can do moreCan do betterMake better use of timeReservedTries to gain attention

Not ThisLazyNever DoesWastes TimeWastes TimeBashfulShow-off

COMMUNICATION SKILLSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS

Non-Verbal • Crossed Arms • Gestures• Eye Contact• Facial Expressions• Environment • Seating

Verbal

• Parent Voice• Restate• Sarcasm•Words

REFLECTIONREFLECTION

SCENARIO 1SCENARIO 1

• I’d like to know what goes on in your classroom! Susie’s teacher last year never gave so much homework and she always made straight A’s. I know you’re new, but you’d better check with someone who knows what they’re doing before you get in over your head.

SCENARIO 2SCENARIO 2

• John said you always pick on him and that you embarrass him in front of all the other kids when he has to go to get special help.

FINAL SUGGESTIONSFINAL SUGGESTIONS

• Document• Heated email – WAIT • Conference support• Be cool• Walk to the office with an irate parent• Don’t meet with a parent while you have

students in the room• Plan meetings to control time

REMEMBER…REMEMBER…

“Don’t be too hard on parents. They send you their very best, and most work hard at raising their kids. And they don’t get summers off.”

RESOURCESRESOURCES• Adapted from Clear Creek Independent School District’s New

Teacher Mentoring Program.

• Tucker, Ginger. The Heart of Teaching Series. GKT Publishing, Amarillo, Texas. 2006.

• Rutherford, Paula. Why Didn’t I Learn This In College? ASK Publications and Professional Development, Alexandria, Virginia. 2002.

• Ramsey, Ed.D., Robert. 501 Tips for Teachers, McGraw Hill, New York. 2003.