parent-teacher communication

Parent-Parent-Teacher Teacher

CommunicatiCommunicationon

Courtney StocktonCourtney Stockton

Developed in Conjunction With the Ventura County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)

Courtney Stockton

If you are planning to present more than one of these modules to the same audience, you should preview them and be prepared to skip the slides or slide portions that are duplicated.

Philosophical Points to Philosophical Points to Consider Consider

Most parents are Most parents are on your side.on your side.

Even difficult Even difficult parents only want parents only want what’s best for what’s best for their student.their student.

How would you How would you deal with the deal with the situation if it were situation if it were your child?your child?

Communication Communication shows you careshows you care

What happens if What happens if you don’t you don’t communicate communicate well?well?

Does your Does your department department chair or chair or administration administration need to know need to know anything?anything?

Courtney Stockton

Make sure to keep those in charge "in the loop" on anything that may escalate. It is never wrong to let the administration know what is happening.

Courtney Stockton

Not communicating leads only to problems. Most issues can be resolved simply through communication. By not participating in communication, teachers appear not to care and may even be subject to disicpline.

Courtney Stockton

Many parents are frustrated with their efforts to help their student. They have tried many things to help but remain unsuccessful. Sometimes this comes out as anger towards the teacher or school. Be patient. Listen to what they are really saying. TRY not to let your emotions say the conversation.

Be Proactive Be Proactive

Get emails and cell phone numbersGet emails and cell phone numbers First HW assignmentFirst HW assignment Back to School NightBack to School Night

Communicate as soon as you see an issueCommunicate as soon as you see an issue

More communication works in your favor More communication works in your favor Lots of documentationLots of documentation

Should involve student when appropriateShould involve student when appropriate Use of Time Tracker/Daily LogUse of Time Tracker/Daily Log Weekly Progress ChecksWeekly Progress Checks Home/School Rewards System Home/School Rewards System

Courtney Stockton

Regardless of how you do it, get contact information from the parents themselves. School data may not always be correct. Plus, parents will often give the best way to contact them.

Courtney Stockton

One strategy is to call a set number of parents each week to report on good things teachers can say about the student. This starts the chain of communication on a positive note and allows for easier communication in the future .

Courtney Stockton

If a teacher communicates with parents on a regular basis, a relationship will develop. However, if things turn negative, the fact that teachers have been communicating regularly will show that they have been trying to "fix" whatever is going on.

Courtney Stockton

Teachers should always document when communication was made, how it was made, and the results of the communication. It is also a good idea to maintain a log documenting what was said and done. Keep personnal feelings out of this documentation as it MAY end up in court.

Courtney Stockton

Whenever possible, students should take an active role in knowing and communicating what is going on in class. This helps them take ownership of their actions in and out of class.

General StrategiesGeneral Strategies

Focus on strengths and successes but Focus on strengths and successes but discuss problem areas as welldiscuss problem areas as well

Keep records of things that have “potential” Keep records of things that have “potential”

Don’t use other student’s namesDon’t use other student’s names

Pick the best way to communicate for youPick the best way to communicate for you Phone vs. email vs. website vs. ????Phone vs. email vs. website vs. ????

Respond to all communication within 24 Respond to all communication within 24 hourshours

Courtney Stockton

Try to keep comments positive. Say what the student can do vs. what they can't do. Emphasize successes.

Courtney Stockton

Again, teachers should maintain written records of communication. This is especially true when the issue at hand could potentially result in a complaint or hearing.

Courtney Stockton

Never name another student in the class. Technically, the person you are communicating with should not know anything about any of the students in the class including first names, ages, disabilities, etc.

Courtney Stockton

Teachers should find the system that works best for them, communicate to the parents (and the office) what that system is and use that system consistently.

Courtney Stockton

This shows that the teacher is taking parent concerns seriously. Also, leaving communication unanswered for more than 24 hours often means the teacher never returns the communication.

Even When They’re Even When They’re AngryAngry

Stay ProfessionalStay Professional

Keep calmKeep calm

Speak in a normal Speak in a normal volumevolume

Avoid profanity Avoid profanity Borderline Borderline

wordswords

Only say things Only say things you can prove you can prove via via documentationdocumentation

TRYTRY not to allow not to allow feelings into feelings into discussiondiscussion

Don’t allow Don’t allow abuseabuse

Courtney Stockton

The next slide shows some steps teachers can take to protect themselves from verbal abuse by parents. Teachers should always follow any rules their site or district has regarding these issues.

Courtney Stockton

Never do or say anything that you wouldn't do or say in front of the principal. Sometimes, the parent will tell the principal what occured and teachers could find themselves answering difficult questions in the principal's office.

Courtney Stockton

Even if you don't feel calm, act like it to the parent. If you can't maintain your composure, end the conversation (see Slide 6).

Courtney Stockton

Raising the volume of the voice often makes listeners feel the speaker is angry. By keeping a normal volume, teachers may be able to keep the parents anxiety level down.

Courtney Stockton

Using profanity is a sure-fire way to end up in the principal's office. Teachers need to act professionally, even when being harassed and profanity is not professional. Even words common on TV may not be appropriate.

Courtney Stockton

Have classwork, homework, tests or projects that show what the student CAN do. Have attendance or discipline records when discussing these issues. Be objective and keep the discussion about the issues not the student.

Courtney Stockton

While this may not be possible, it should be the goal. Parents might lash out and teachers need to be able to 'take it' to a degree. However, if it becomes impossible to keep personal feelings out of the discussion, the communication should be ended and reconvened at a later time.

How to Avoid AbuseHow to Avoid Abuse

Ask parent to Ask parent to speak speak respectfully and respectfully and professionallyprofessionally

Ask them again Ask them again add “…or I will add “…or I will

hang up.”hang up.”

Remind them Remind them they are still not they are still not being respectful. being respectful.

Tell them to set Tell them to set up a meeting with up a meeting with an administrator. an administrator.

Say “I am Say “I am hanging up now.”hanging up now.”

Hang UpHang Up

Specifically Elementary Specifically Elementary

Establish a system Establish a system BEFORE the school BEFORE the school year startsyear starts

Tell parents how it Tell parents how it works works Early onEarly on Whenever Whenever

possiblepossible

Use the system Use the system consistentlyconsistently

If it’s not working, If it’s not working, change it!change it! Notify parents in Notify parents in

advanceadvance

Make assignments Make assignments clearclear Written directionsWritten directions Simple/Rote tasksSimple/Rote tasks Information in Information in

other languagesother languages

Courtney Stockton

See the next slide for some basic ideas on different communication systems teachers could use.

Examples of Examples of Communication SystemsCommunication Systems

Notes in the Notes in the backpackbackpack

Communication Communication loglog

Weekly Weekly newslettersnewsletters

Send unit plans Send unit plans homehome

Regularly Regularly scheduled scheduled phone callsphone calls

Email groupEmail group

Use a website or Use a website or Edmodo.comEdmodo.com

Remind 101Remind 101 Text Blasts Text Blasts

Specifically SecondarySpecifically Secondary

Have students write Have students write HW in time trackerHW in time tracker Get teacher initials Get teacher initials

each dayeach day Write none if no Write none if no

HWHW Student must Student must

bring to teacherbring to teacher

Use Remind101 to Use Remind101 to send text blastssend text blasts App available on App available on

iPhone, iPad or Droid iPhone, iPad or Droid like deviceslike devices

Use weekly progress Use weekly progress checkschecks Many students Many students

already do thisalready do this Student must bring Student must bring

to teacherto teacher

Always give a Always give a progress report grade progress report grade (even if not required)(even if not required)

Use www.Edmodo.com Use www.Edmodo.com CalendarCalendar AssignmentsAssignments Direct Direct

communicationcommunication

Courtney Stockton

This is a website that works like Facebook but is set up specifically for teachers to use at school. Some teachers use this for every assignment and test. It has a grading system and assignment calendar. It also, allows a parent login so they can see what's going on in the class.

Courtney Stockton

This is an App that allows a teacher to send text messages to the entire class, parents or individual students.

ReferencesReferences

Bing Images. “Thinking” (Picture Slide 2). Retrieved from Bing Images. “Thinking” (Picture Slide 2). Retrieved from http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4948031006510192&pid=1.7 6/18/2013.

Bing Images. “Proactive” (Picture Slide 3). Retrieved from Bing Images. “Proactive” (Picture Slide 3). Retrieved from http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMeWsakmSfM/T_PKXQCmFhI/AAAAAAAAAl4/uMeN-an6uE8/s1600/depositphotos_9057569-Proactive-Person-Wins-Vs-Reactive-Inactivity-People-Lose.jpg 6/18/2013.

Bing Images. “Communication Crossword” (Picture Slide 3). Retrieved Bing Images. “Communication Crossword” (Picture Slide 3). Retrieved from from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Tf4i8LrbkE/UTYTEk80KFI/AAAAAAAAAm8/EQhhttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Tf4i8LrbkE/UTYTEk80KFI/AAAAAAAAAm8/EQhw0uN0YiM/s1600/depositphotos_4556166-Communication-w0uN0YiM/s1600/depositphotos_4556166-Communication-crossword.jpg 6/18/2013.crossword.jpg 6/18/2013.

Bing Images. “Angry 1” (Picture Slide 5). Retrieved from Bing Images. “Angry 1” (Picture Slide 5). Retrieved from http://hsc.csu.edu.au/entertain/industry/core/manage/3457/images/Comhttp://hsc.csu.edu.au/entertain/industry/core/manage/3457/images/Communication.jpg 6/18/2013munication.jpg 6/18/2013

Bing Images. “Communicating” (Picture Slide 4). Retrieved from Bing Images. “Communicating” (Picture Slide 4). Retrieved from http://www.glennkruithoff.com/uploads/communicating_20feedback_bluhttp://www.glennkruithoff.com/uploads/communicating_20feedback_blue.jpg 6/18/2013e.jpg 6/18/2013

Bing Images. “Teacher Abuse” (Picture Slide 6). Retrieved from Bing Images. “Teacher Abuse” (Picture Slide 6). Retrieved from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kr3odvg8Quc/TAVyLUfOFwI/AAAAAAAABEc/azhttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kr3odvg8Quc/TAVyLUfOFwI/AAAAAAAABEc/azrR96UwL2U/s1600/Teacher+Abuse.jpg 6/189/2013rR96UwL2U/s1600/Teacher+Abuse.jpg 6/189/2013

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4948031006510192&pid=1.7

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMeWsakmSfM/T_PKXQCmFhI/AAAAAAAAAl4/uMeN-an6uE8/s1600/depositphotos_9057569-Proactive-Person-Wins-Vs-Reactive-Inactivity-People-Lose.jpg



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