Can you hear me now?

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Can you hear me now?
Effective Home - School Communication
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DEFINIITON

• A two-way process
• Meaningful and
• ongoing
• Lays a foundation
• for home-school
• partnerships

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
What is it?
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PURPOSE

• Establish trust
• Shared
• expectations
• Foster future
• family involvement

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Why do it?
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BENEFITS
When the first contact is a positive one, parents
are more open to hearing from the school later
even when there is a problem.
GOOD NEWS!
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THE FOUR TYPES
Written Communication

• Welcome packets
• Positive postcards
• Student agendas
• Flyers
• Newsletters
• Surveys

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• Flyers
• Bullets (like these)
• help to
• Make content look like
• a quick and easy read
• Organize important
• information
• Create an informal and
• friendly tone.

Written Communication
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BEST PRACTICES
Flyers A single large image creates a stronger
impression than many small pictures. It allows
the eye and the mind to focus .
Written Communication
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BEST PRACTICES
Flyers Do NOT use more than 2 or 3 fonts or
COLORS! If you want your flyer to be read,
remember Less is more.
Written Communication
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THE FOUR TYPES
4 Types of Communication
Electronic Communication

• Share good news
• Share links and
• resources
• Remind families
• of upcoming
• events

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BEST PRACTICES
E-Mail Be sure to use proper spelling and
punctuation. Avoid using abbreviations.
Electronic Communication
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BEST PRACTICES
E-Mail Parents cannot see your face or hear your
tone of voice in an E-Mail. Do not use humor or
sarcasm or share bad news. When in doubt, pick up
the phone.
Electronic Communication
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BEST PRACTICES
School Website 65 of American homes have
internet access and that number grows daily.
Does your school have a website worthy of their
E-ttention?
Electronic Communication
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THE FOUR TYPES
4 Types of Communication
Verbal and In-person

• Phone calls
• Face-to-face
• Speeches
• Presentations

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BEST PRACTICES

• Face-to-Face
• Maintain an open posture.
• Smile
• Maintain eye contact
• Lean forward
• Avoid folding your
• arms or crossing your
• legs.

Verbal Communication
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BEST PRACTICES
Listen up. Parents have vital information and
insights about their child. Ask yourself, What
do I wish I knew about this child?
Verbal Communication
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THE FOUR TYPES
4 Types of Communication
Visual Communication

• School Marquee
• Parking lot signs
• Building signage
• Bulletin boards

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BEST PRACTICES
School Marquee Dont miss an opportunity to
sell your school. YAY! Our six graders have
read 2532 books!
Visual Communication
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BEST PRACTICES
Signs, signs, everywhere signs. Do a walk-through
to evaluate the effectiveness of your signs.
Visual Communication
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NOW HEAR THIS

• Communication
• 55 body language
• 38 tone of voice
• 7 content of words

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K.I.S.S.

• Keep It Short and Simple
• Avoid using educational
• jargon (differentiated
• instruction)
• Stick to the point
• Remember Two-way
• means listening.

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BLUEPRINT 4 SUCCESS

• By taking the time to draft a plan for
  home-school communication, your efforts will pave
  the way for all future contacts with families.