“Parents are people, people with children”
PARENT COMMUNICATION
METHODS OF COMMUNICATIONMETHODS OF COMMUNICATION
•Phone
• 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.