Communicating Effectively with Coworkers and Parents

1
Communicating Effectively with Co-workers and
Parents

• Rick Brietzke
• John Ottow

2
Communications Media

• E-mail
• Texting
• IM (Instant Messaging)
• Social Networking (FaceBook, MySpace)
• Telephone
• Face to Face
• Newsletter, Webpage, Channel 98/982
• EdLine at FAHS and FAMS
• SchoolWorld (New in 09-10)
• Other?

3
http//www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/JHaas/
4
Scenario One

• A familiar parent e-mails you and wants to know
  when their parent teacher conference is
  scheduled. What media would you use to answer the
  parent?

5
Scenario Two

• You are e-mailed by a coach and who is inquiring
  about student athlete. He is wondering if you are
  aware that the student was drinking at a party in
  your neighborhood. The coach is
  considering consequences for the student but
  needs more information. How do you respond?

6
Scenario Three

• The principal in your school e-mailed all
  teachers in the school regarding bullying in the
  upper grades. As a fourth grade teachers you
  e-mailed the principal back that you have not
  noticed any bullying in your class. The principal
  sends a short e-mail back to you saying that
  Bullying must be stopped. You are feeling upset
  and compose a detailed e-mail back to the
  principal detailing the measures you have taken
  with your class to prevent bullying, close
  supervision of students, etc. What to you do next?

7
E-Mail

• Quick and efficient-can use at your convenience
• Best to use after a relationship is established
• Harder to convey feelings, intent, etc
• Accessible from work or home
• Use standard spelling and grammar
• Be consistent using one address/account
• Acknowledge receipt of emails
• Reply within 24 hours
• Use a vacation or similar reply if response
  time is long
• Remember emails are public property
• All District emails run through technology
  director
• Want to share an email with othersask permission
  first
• Part of student record
• Be careful with ccs and blind ccs
• Think before you hit send
• Keep emails short and when necessary use respond
  time

8
Scenario Four

• You saw one of your students pinch another
  student. When questioned, the student denied it.
  The student has not been in much trouble in the
  past. You need to let the parents know what
  happened. These are parents that you have met
  before through parent-teacher conferences. What
  media do you use to contact the parents?

9
Telephone

• Quick and efficient
• Respond to voice mail within 24 hours
• Ones responsibility to check for voice mails
  regularly
• Sometimes best to return some calls after wait
  time---2-3 hours (unless and emergency)
• Your voice mail greeting should sound
  professional
• Expecting a lengthy phone call? Establish a time
  limit early in the call

10
Scenario Five

• It is the beginning of the year. A parent, whom
  you have not met, leaves a voice mail telling you
  that her daughter has a 504 handicap plan of
  which you are unaware. He seems to be upset. The
  parent is wondering what type of help you will be
  giving their daughter in math. What is your next
  step?

11
Face-to-Face

• Best for establishing relationships
• Get out from behind the desk
• Use the power of eye contact and a smile
• Start with positive messages
• End with positive affirmation about action
• Do your homework and be prepared. This adds much
  to one's confidence.

12
Scenario Six

• The Science Fair will be in 6 weeks. Last year
  there was a lot of confusion over expectations.
  Students and parents need to know about
  deadlines, scoring rubrics, materials, handling
  procedures, displays, etc. How would you best get
  this information out?

13
Newsletters/Letters/Webpages/EdLine

• Best for getting information out to larger
  numbers of people
• Not always read
• Use photos when possible
• Keep up to date

14
Scenario Seven

• You have a Facebook page that you primarily use
  to communicate with your college friends.
  A student sees that you are on the Fort Atkinson
  network in Facebook. You receive a request to
  be one of their Friends. What should you do?

15
Non-professional Communications?

• Social Networking
• Instant Messaging
• Texting
• Other?

16
General Tips for Communicating with Parents

• Parents are important partners
• Key to get their trust right away
• Sound and look professional-first impressions
  count
• Dont treat all parents the same---some need more
  or less information, help, direction, etc
• Lower the boom lightly
• Leave them with a brief written summary of
  important points from verbal conversations ex
  parent teacher conferences
• Know their child. Do your homework.
• Dont use other students names unless
  complimenting. Conversations can become public.
• Asked about other students consequences? Just
  say appropriate measures were taken, the matter
  was treated seriously, etc
• Other tips

17
Too hot to handle? No resolution in sight?

• Agree to continue the conversation later
• Be assertive with time limit of
  conference/conversation
• End to dialogue with an agree to disagree and
  follow-up later
• Never take verbal abusebe assertive and say
  When you say that I am hanging up now and will
  inform my principal of our conversation.
  Good-bye"
• Be assertiveThis is what I saw or heard. Be
  specific with this information either in writing
  or messaging.
• Problematic Parent-Teacher Conference?-Schedule
  for two blocks of time or the end of the day,
  involve other people, etc
• Insure your personal safety by meeting with
  parents when others are around.

18
Scenario Eight

• As a veteran teacher you are trying to be
  welcoming to a fellow Language Arts teacher.
  Youve stopped by the new teacher's classroom
  repeatedly and said things like, Anything I can
  do to help, just yell, and left. It is past the
  winter holiday break and the newer teacher has
  not stopped by and asked for help. What is
  happening here?

19
General Tips for Communicating with Co-Workers

• Just starting?? Listen more than talk
• Ask lots of questions
• Look for the right opportunities to offer
  suggestions
• Support staff is important!
• Keep student names out of the lounge
• Dont complain about students with otherskeep it
  positive or politely vague with an I don't know.
• Know levels of collegiality-range from congenial
  to collegial
• Ex. from talking about weather to working,
  problem-solving or planning together