parent teacher communication

Parent Teacher Communication

Professional Development Program 2013

H Dh. Atoll School & H Dh. Neykurendhoo School

Teachers strive to establish partnerships with

parents to support student learning. Strong

communication is fundamental to this partnership

and to building a sense of community between

home and school. In these changing times, teachers

must continue to develop and expand their skills in

order to maximize effective communication with

parents.

Introduction

Objectives

• To be aware of different communication approaches

• To recognize how different communication approaches can strengthen or weaken teacher-family relations

• To gain practice in employing different communication approaches in different circumstances

Why Communication is Important?

• Cultivating parent-teacher relationship is vital to to the development of school as a learning community. (Schussler, 2003)

• Communicating with parents is critical for establishing parent-teacher relationship. (Epstein, 1995)

• Parent-teacher communication is fundamental to involve families in education process.

Top 5 reasons why parent-teacher communication is beneficial:

• Increases trust between schools and families

• Encourages higher and realistic parental expectations

• Serves as the first step to other types of parent involvement to follow

• Leads to a higher degree of parents’ commitment to helping their students improve

• Puts everyone on the “same page”

What is PTC?• Communication may involve impressions

created or words expressed.

• Parents will be positively influenced by:– Welcome sign – Cleanliness of the school ground – Students' art work on the wall – Sounds in the classrooms

(Chambers, 1998)

What is PTC?

• Expressed communication involves one-way or two-way exchange

One-way communication Two-way communication

Letters/ Newsletters Telephone calls

Report cards Home visit

Communication books Parent teacher conference

Radio announcements Open houses

School Web site School based community activity

Using Technology

• Integrating technology can help schools communicate quickly to a broad parent community– Classroom phones & voice mail– Video technology – Radio announcement– School Web site

Parent-teacher communication centers around five different topic areas:

– academic performance, – classroom behavior, – child's academic and social

preparation for school, – hostile communication between

peers, and – health related issues.

(Mazer and Thompson)

Barriers to Communication

• Society Level

Problem Solution

Public is becoming estranged from public institutions

Schools are frequently the target of negative reportsBrandt (1998)

Every positive interaction will serve to increase trust & build stronger relationship

School needs to be a part of community.

School has the advantage of being natural point of interaction.


• Society Level

Problem Solution

Cultural differences Seek out information to understand the cultural & linguistic diversity.

Seek out interpreter service when & where needed.

Incorporate faces of diversity into children's literature


• Parent Level

Problem Solution

Parent's own negative school experience.

Parents may not understand how to effectively interact with teacher/ school.

Provide guidelines in checklist format for managing their concern

Encourage parents to gather information


• Parent Level

Problem Solution

Economic situation & time constraints

Understand parent's schedule & availability.

Provide parents with information when and how to contact teacher.

Home visits

Provide child care option in school building during meetings.


• School Level

Problem Solution

Use of technical jargon Avoid technical/ educational jargons.

Explain jargons and acronyms

Audio messages for below literacy level

Communication is a process

• Identifying the goal and reason for the communication.

• Considering one’s audience. • Choosing a communication approach that opens rather than blocks a two-way conversation

Goal:Consider the content of your message

Ask yourself:

• What message do I want to convey?

• What do I want to have happen as a result of this communication?

Audience

Ask yourself:

• Who am I talking with?• What is our degree of familiarity?• What style of communication am I

comfortable with? How might it be different—or the same—than the family I am communicating with?

Approach

• Instructing

• Following-up• Asking for help• Revealing• Informally exchanging• Active Listening

Effective communication strategies involve:

• Initiation: – Teachers should initiate contact as

soon as they know which students will be in their classroom for the school year. Contact can occur by means of an introductory phone call or a letter to the home introducing yourself to the parents and establishing expectations.


• Timeliness: – Adults should make contact soon

after a problem has been identified, so a timely solution can be found. Waiting too long can create new problems, possibly through the frustration of those involved.


• Follow-through: – Parents and teachers each want to

see that the other will actually do what they say they will do.


• Clarity and usefulness of communication: – Parents and teachers should have

the information they need to help students, in a form and language that makes sense to them.


• Consistency and frequency: – Parents want frequent, ongoing

feedback about how their children are performing with homework.

Parent Teacher Conference

Before Conference

• Do we need a translator?• Articulate the purpose of the

conference.• Schedule carefully.• Organize data and documents.• Check names.

During Conference

• Greet parents.• Eliminate physical barriers.• Active listening. Pause, Probe,

Paraphrase• Positive Tone• Ask for opinions, reactions,

concerns.• Be careful with jargon.• Summarize.

After Conference

• Write a brief summary• Did you accomplish your goal?• Was your message received?• Write a brief thank-you note

Activity

• Role Play- in groups, select a role-playing situation. Discuss the goal, audience & approach.

• Present the role play