Communication

In his book ‘Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff’, author Richard Carlson notes that one of the most important questions you can ever ask yourself is, “Do I want to be ‘right’ – or do I want to be happy?” According to Carlson, many times the two are mutually exclusive! At times we can waste our time, energy and goodwill by endeavouring to prove we are right and almost as importantly, the other person is wrong. The need to always be right alienates people. It encourages them to be defensive and in turn requires us to continue to assert and defend our position. Whilst some aspects of education are clear cut, many are not. People by their very nature have their…

Email was intended to be a fantastic means of easy, two way communication. However, it has inherent weaknesses that need to be considered, especially in schools. One of the key benefits of email SHOULD be that the messages are there waiting for you when YOU have time to look at them. Email was intended to reduce the number interruptions into your day eg phone calls, intercom, visitors to your door with notes etc. To attain this benefit, email alerts need to be switched off or the arrival of an email WILL interrupt you. Be aware that email is addictive. Most users check their email numerous times each day. This distracts their focus (even briefly) from the activity they are currently…

Parent-Teacher conferences are an important opportunity for two-way communication. They are not merely a stage for teachers to give parents information on classroom performance, although many teachers do just that. They are also an opportunity for parents to understand and develop trust in their child’s teacher. Parent-Teacher conferences are NOT just about results. If a parent leaves a conference with a list of grades and nothing else, it’s wasted time. Conferences are also a place for parents to tell teachers things about their child: How the student likes to learn. What they says about the class at home. How they enjoys spending free time. What motivates and interests them. Parent-Teacher conferences are a key strategy in establishing a partnership with…

Information sessions for parents and carers are important occasions for setting the tone for the year and building relationships. For 99% of parents the MOST important thing in their world is their child! More important than their house, their car or anything they own. This places a tremendous amount of responsibility on us. We are not only charged with the responsibility to look after them but to educate them as well. Whilst this is a massive responsibility, it is also a tremendous opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. First impressions count! Be organised – set the classroom up to be interesting (ensure displays are error free) Be punctual – start and finish on time Be interested –…

The language of encouragement is open to all. It is easy to learn. You can start right away. It makes schools hum. Encouragement builds wellbeing. It expects the best for the other person. It makes their spirit sing. Give a compliment – You look…, You are…, You give…, You make…fill-in your own words to give a sincere compliment to those you live with, work with or meet in your everyday duties. Praise an action – Earnt praise is powerful and is crammed full of positive reinforcement. Tell the person what you admired in their action and why. I believe in you – No matter what the critics say, I have faith in you to be the one best able to…