communication

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…

There are many reasons why a parent conference can be difficult. Sometimes the content is difficult to talk about. Sometimes the student is difficult to deal with in class. Sometimes our own lack of comfort causes the difficulty. Sometimes the parent is difficult. Often there are misunderstandings that make the conference difficult.   Controlling our eye contact during a difficult parent conference is critical to our success. The following are the four stages of a Difficult Parent Conference, with a commentary on the non-verbals. Our goal is to have a piece of paper eg mark book, anecdotal notes, incident report or assessment piece, represent the source of the problem. This preserves the relationship with the parent.   Parent’s stage and…

Parent conferences are a busy and demanding time for teachers, especially where we are dealing with complex issues, working with difficult people or delivering ‘bad’ news. Effective communication is vital in building trust. Our use of non-verbals is important Take care of yourself Never be alone in the building for parent conferences. Prepare well, ducks in a row, with written documentation of issues. Breathe well. Take several deep breaths before the conference. During the conference, stop and take two deep breaths any time things are tense. (also see dealing with “a big cat” below) Show that you care about them and their child Let them know you understand how much they care about their child. You all want what is…