Transcript Dealing Positively with Parents

PARENT COMMUNICATION
“Parents are people, people with children”
METHODS OF COMMUNICATION
• Phone
• Email
• In Person
WHICH METHOD IS THE BEST?
IN PERSON,
whenever possible
THE CONVERSATION –
IN PERSON OR ON THE PHONE
• Beginning
• Middle
• Ending
• BE SURE ALL PARTIES ARE ON THE SAME
PAGE
COMMUNICATION BY EMAIL
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Introduction
Short/Specific
Positive Comment
Challenge
Non-emotional
Conference Time
Be Understanding
Partner for Student Success
End Positively
HINTS: 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 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 TIPS
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Dress
Treatment
Seating
Organization
Materials
Friendly
Body Language
Clear Purpose
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 WORDS
Use This
 Shown he can do
more
 Can do better
 Make better use of
time
 Reserved
 Tries to gain
attention
Not This
 Lazy
 Never Does
 Wastes Time
 Wastes Time
 Bashful
 Show-off
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Non-Verbal
• Crossed Arms
• Gestures
• Eye Contact
• Facial Expressions
• Environment
• Seating
Verbal
• Parent Voice
• Restate
• Sarcasm
• Words
REFLECTION
SCENARIO 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 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 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…
“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.”
RESOURCES
• 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.