EP101 Unit 7:EP101 Unit 7: The The Importance of Importance of

CommunicationCommunicationPlease have your book Please have your book

nearby.nearby.Feel free to chat with each Feel free to chat with each

other.other.We will start class at 10 PM We will start class at 10 PM

ET!ET!

Unit 6 ReviewUnit 6 Review Lesson Plans contain key components Lesson Plans contain key components

(objectives, materials, procedure, (objectives, materials, procedure, evaluation, etc.)evaluation, etc.)

It’s important to tap into multiple It’s important to tap into multiple learning styles & intelligence areas learning styles & intelligence areas during instructionduring instruction

Consider diversity in students (beyond Consider diversity in students (beyond cultural-gender, socioeconomic status, cultural-gender, socioeconomic status, exceptionalities, etc.)exceptionalities, etc.)

Unit 6 Review (cont.)Unit 6 Review (cont.) Help students develop metacognitive Help students develop metacognitive

skillsskills Consider other social influences Consider other social influences

(parents working hours, (parents working hours, abuse/neglect, legal requirements)abuse/neglect, legal requirements)

Overview of Basic Technology Overview of Basic Technology awarenessawareness

Advantages to Good Advantages to Good CommunicationCommunication

““Communication is the process by Communication is the process by which any message is given or which any message is given or received through talking, writing, or received through talking, writing, or making gestures.” (wikipedia.com)making gestures.” (wikipedia.com)

Clear expectationsClear expectations Resolution of problemsResolution of problems Both parties feel respectedBoth parties feel respected

Listening StrategiesListening Strategies Body languageBody language

– Eye contactEye contact– Lean into, rather than away from, speakerLean into, rather than away from, speaker– No fidgetingNo fidgeting

Active listeningActive listening– Paraphrase what speaker saidParaphrase what speaker said– Ask questions for clarificationAsk questions for clarification– Give constructive feedbackGive constructive feedback

Goal: to reduce misunderstandingsGoal: to reduce misunderstandings(Petress)(Petress)

Communication with Communication with StudentsStudents

Why?Why?– Clear expectations, Clear expectations,

rules, and rules, and proceduresprocedures

– Encourage Encourage questioning and questioning and dialoguedialogue

How?How?– Verbal:Verbal: addressing addressing

whole class or whole class or individual studentsindividual students

– Written:Written: notes, notes, grades, directionsgrades, directions

– Body language:Body language: facial expressions, facial expressions, proximity, signalsproximity, signals

Communication with Communication with ParentsParents

Why?Why?– Parent involvement is Parent involvement is

key to student’s successkey to student’s success– Keeps them Keeps them informedinformed of of

their child’s progress their child’s progress and activities at schooland activities at school

– Lets students know that Lets students know that all parties have a all parties have a vested vested interestinterest in their in their educational successeducational success

(Reading Today)(Reading Today)

How?How?– WrittenWritten notes, notes,

emails, newsletters, emails, newsletters, progress reports, progress reports, report cardsreport cards

– Phone callsPhone calls– In person:In person:

conference, open conference, open house, classroom house, classroom volunteer, parent volunteer, parent workshopsworkshops

(Bulloch)(Bulloch)

Communication with Communication with ColleaguesColleagues

Why?Why?– Share instructional Share instructional

ideasideas– Communicate Communicate

schoolwide schoolwide expectationsexpectations

– Communicate about Communicate about individual student individual student progressprogress

How?How?– Written:Written: letters, letters,

emailemail– Verbal:Verbal: school wide school wide

meetings, grade meetings, grade level meetings, level meetings, individual individual discussionsdiscussions

Implications for Implications for ParaprofessionalsParaprofessionals

Role model good listening and Role model good listening and communicating for your studentscommunicating for your students

Use professionalism and remember Use professionalism and remember confidentiality when discussing confidentiality when discussing studentsstudents

Maintain good communication with Maintain good communication with your supervisoryour supervisor

Weekly RemindersWeekly Reminders Complete readings:Complete readings: Para's Text-Ch. 7 "Instructional Supervision"Para's Text-Ch. 7 "Instructional Supervision" "PTA issues standards for parental involvement in education" "PTA issues standards for parental involvement in education"

(copy in Doc Sharing)(copy in Doc Sharing) "Listening: A Vital Skill" (copy in Doc Sharing)"Listening: A Vital Skill" (copy in Doc Sharing)

View Web ResourcesView Web Resources Participate in Discussion BoardParticipate in Discussion Board

– Post answers to BOTH discussion questions in an “essay-Post answers to BOTH discussion questions in an “essay-like” format, including references where applicablelike” format, including references where applicable

– Respond to your classmates’ posts per discussion Respond to your classmates’ posts per discussion questionquestion

Attend Seminar or complete Option 2Attend Seminar or complete Option 2 Complete Unit 7 ProjectComplete Unit 7 Project Work on Final ProjectWork on Final Project

Unit 7 ProjectUnit 7 ProjectParaprofessional educators must respond to the need for effective Paraprofessional educators must respond to the need for effective

communication between all members of a student’s educational communication between all members of a student’s educational team. In a one- to two-page essay (double-spaced, Arial or Times team. In a one- to two-page essay (double-spaced, Arial or Times New Roman font, 12 pt.) OR a in a Power Point presentation (see New Roman font, 12 pt.) OR a in a Power Point presentation (see format provided), write about your impressions of what a good format provided), write about your impressions of what a good communication plan between home, school and student would look communication plan between home, school and student would look like. This can be for any grade level. Reinforce your rationale with like. This can be for any grade level. Reinforce your rationale with citations from this week’s unit.  Some things you might consider:citations from this week’s unit.  Some things you might consider:

Who should be included in this plan?Who should be included in this plan? How can you be sure your plan provides frequent updates? How can you be sure your plan provides frequent updates? How can you include positive feedback as well as issues that need How can you include positive feedback as well as issues that need

to be addressed? to be addressed? As your expectations for and attitudes about students have an As your expectations for and attitudes about students have an

influence on their success, how will you be aware of this as you influence on their success, how will you be aware of this as you communicate with them?communicate with them?

How can you involve parents in the classroom? How can you involve parents in the classroom? How should your communication plan include your interactions with How should your communication plan include your interactions with

your supervising teacher?your supervising teacher?

ReferencesReferencesPetress (1999). Listening: A Vital Skill. Petress (1999). Listening: A Vital Skill. Journal of Journal of

Instructional PsychologyInstructional Psychology, 26, 261., 26, 261.

PTA issues standards for parent involvement in PTA issues standards for parent involvement in education. education. Reading TodayReading Today, 14, 16. , 14, 16.

Bulloch, Kathleen L. (2003). Home-School Bulloch, Kathleen L. (2003). Home-School Communications. Communications. Education OasisEducation Oasis, retrieved , retrieved January 20, 2008, from January 20, 2008, from http://www.educationoasis.com/instruction/bt/hohttp://www.educationoasis.com/instruction/bt/home-school_communication.htmme-school_communication.htm