Education World Global ECE Conference Workshops. Workshop 3: “I know what’s best for the child”: The Art of Effective Parent Communication, 22 January 2016.

1. THE ART OF PARENT
TEACHER COMMUNICATION

2. Have things really changed?

3. What is this workshop all about?
We will emphasize the importance of
parent-teacher relationship.
Will will look at different ways to
communicate with parents and how
effective they are.
We will analyse common
communication problems and come up
with solutions.
Let’s maximize our learning by active
participation!

4. But Why?!
Importance of parent-teacher communication
Question 1:
Why is parent-teacher communication important?
SWAP ROLES!
Question 2:
What are the consequences of poor parent-teacher communication?

5. Let’s summarize…why is parent-teacher
relationship important?
 It allows a student reach maximum potential inside as well as outside the
classroom classroom.
 Being guided by the teacher, parents can support the student’s learning at home.
 Regular communication allows to address issues before they escalate.
 Parents can support the teacher by sharing the child’s strengths and weaknesses.
 Allows parents to feel involved in their child’s learning and welcome at school.
 Parents’ involvement can boost a child’s motivation.

6. Video Prompt
Watch the whole video here. As you watch the video, think about:
• What are the different perspectives of the characters in the video?
• What are some examples of dos and don’ts for parent-teacher
communication that you observed in the video?
• What do you think leads to conflict situations between parents and
teachers?

7. LA 1: Group Discussion Outcome
The Dos and Don’ts of Parent Communication
Dos
• Show records
• Start with positive comments
• Building rapport with parents / make
parents comfortable
• Have suggestions, not just problems
• Be able to share something unique
about a child
• Give personal examples of the child
• Identifying learning gaps and sharing
interventions
• Use “we” not “I” or “you”
Don’ts
• Don’t use words like “dumb”, ”stupid”
etc.
• Don’t be judgmental
• Don’t compare
• Wait till the end of the year to give
feedback
• Don’t be offensive or defensive
• Shut down communication

8. Tools for parent communication
One-way communication (used to provide information
to parents):
• newsletters
• voice message
• report cards
• notes/worksheets to parents
Two-way communication (when there is a dialogue
between parents and the teacher):
• parent/teacher conferences
• parent/teacher interviews
• phone calls/Skype
• e-mail
• messaging (SMS, online chats)
• website/interactive platform
What are the pros and cons of each method?
What would be the outcome of using each method? Image Source

9. Resource Bank – 1
Parents and Teachers: The Possibility of a Dream Team by Dr. Richard Curwin
How Teachers Can Help: The Three-Call Method
As early in the year as possible, teachers need to call as many parents on the phone as possible,
hopefully all of them if their load is small enough. The purpose of the call is to welcome the
parent into the learning community and to establish a positive communication line. The idea is
that you should discuss a problem with a parent no sooner than the third call. The first two
calls should be more positive.
How Parents Can Help: Communicate Proactively
Parents, too, can help communication. They can inform teachers of things happening at home that
might affect student behavior; a pending divorce, serious illness, birth of a new baby, a change
or addition of a medication, or a parent on an extended trip abroad are all examples of things
that can help teachers. Children who strongly object to going to school, hate a certain subject,
are being bullied or have too much homework are other helpful things to discuss with teachers.
Become a Team
Finally, stop dumping and blaming on both sides. These tactics help no one, make the other party
defensive and prevents finding possible solutions. Become a team, not adversaries. Share
your perceptions honestly. Tell the other what works at home or in class and what doesn't.
Work out a plan of action to try, and be flexible enough to change it if it doesn't help. Deflect
accusations by not taking them personally.
You can find the whole article here: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/parent-teacher-
collaboration-richard-curwin

10. Resource Bank – 2
A dozen activities to promote parent involvement by Linda Starr
Build a bridge
"Educators need to be willing to recognize the extent of this disconnection as a precondition for
involving families in their children's education," the report continued, offering the following
suggestions for reducing that feeling of disconnection:
• Be sure the first contact with parents is a positive one.
• Communicate with parents straightforwardly and simply, avoiding educational "jargon."
• Ensure that all parents have regular access to clear, concise, and easily readable information
about their children's school and classroom.
• Ask parents to share their concerns and opinions about school, and then address those
concerns.
• Accommodate parents' work schedules.
• Accommodate language and cultural differences.
• Establish regular, meaningful communication between home and school.
• Promote and support parenting skills.
• Encourage active parent participation in student learning.
• Welcome parents as volunteer partners in schools.
• Invite parents to act as full partners in making school decisions that affect children and
families.
• Reach out to the community for resources to strengthen schools.
You can find the whole article here: http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr200.shtml

11. Resource Bank - 3
Building Better Parent-Teacher Relationships: The 21st Century Way by Prasanna Bharti
Here are a few things you can do with the assurance of getting those misled parents on your side
again:
First things first: Explain to parents that strictness on both parent’s & teacher’s side can alone
impact the child positively.
Connect With Them Where They Already Are: Everybody is busy. Majority of the Communication
takes place digitally. It has become very important for teachers to connect with their students &
parents where their attention is, i.e., on their phones.
In-depth Dissection: Show parents the specific problems attached with their child & offer
customized solutions. Sounding a li’l corporate, eh?!!
Blow the Horn Early: Let parents of the child know of any pertinent concern much in advance
while it’s still in the nascent stage.
Keeping Parents in Loop: Make it a point to update parents early about school events & initiatives
and also give them a hawk’s eye view, via photos & visuals, into all the wonderful things the
school does for their children!
Communicate, don’t promulgate: When it comes to reminders to late fee payers, stop scolding
the child & inform the parents directly. Let them know that you’re not spreading the word &
embarrassing the child because….you care!
Value Feedbacks: Allot parents a platform wherein they can submit their queries/feedbacks to
which you may reply too.
You can find the whole article here: http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/trends/1982-
building-better-parent-teacher-relationships-the-21st-century-way

12. Resource Bank - 4
Effective Parent and Teacher Communication by Angie Shiflett
There are many ways that parent and teacher communication may be enhanced.
1. First, it is important to understand that parent and teacher communication is intended to
benefit the child's overall success academically.
2. While the numeric scores will outline a child's level of achievement on tests and other
assignments, it is important to realize that a numeric score is also beneficial in
identifying a child's weaknesses.
3. Many parents make the mistake of sitting back and allowing a teacher to come to them
with issues
4. It is important to sign up as a volunteer in your child's classroom and ensure that you visit
their class often.
5. It is important to understand that parent/teacher conferences may not always be
appropriate as far as time is concerned.
Encourage your child's teacher to provide you with an alternative means of communication
such as a telephone number or an email address. This will allow you and the teacher to
communicate during periods that you are unavailable in person.
You can find the whole article here: http://education.more4kids.info/264/effective-
parent-teacher-communication/

13. Resource Bank - 5
Five Keys to Successful Parent-Teacher Communication by Barbara Mariconda
The best way to avoid misunderstandings with parents is to have ongoing, clear lines of
communication from the beginning. The more you keep them informed about classroom news and
include them in school happenings, the more they'll feel like a part of the team. The end result?
Parents who are supportive, understanding, and a little less likely to jump to negative conclusions.
Here are five ground rules of effective communication with parents:
1. Begin the year by explaining how and when you'll keep in touch with them.
2. Never feel pressured to make an important decision, evaluation, or assessment during a
parent conference or conversation.
3. Let parents know they can trust you.
4. Assure parents that you will inform them immediately about any concerns you might have
with regard to their child.
5. When presenting a concern to parents, ALWAYS be ready to explain what strategies
you've already used to address the issue and what new strategies you are considering.
You can find the whole article here: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/five-keys-
successful-parent-teacher-communication

14. Resource Bank - 6
6 skills to resolve conflicts with teachers and parents while buffering relationships by
Deidre M. LeFevre and Viviane M.J. Robinson
• Skill 1–Express yourself and describe your position.
• Skill 2– Listen for deep understanding. Careful listening in response to complaints
restores trust. Your curiosity in the discussion signals a deep respect for the other person’s
ideas and concerns and helps build a working affiliation. You should listen both to fact-find
and to understand how the facts have been interpreted.
• Skill 3–Check your understanding. Make sure that you have correctly understood what
the parent or teacher has communicated and that your reactions are not based on faulty
inferences and attributions.
• Skills 4 and 5–Re-examine your point of view and help the other person re-examine
theirs.
• Skill 6–Agree with the principal and parent/teacher on what to do next. Expert
principals genuinely try to find solutions that satisfy the legitimate interests of all parties.
You can find the while article here: http://www.ernweb.com/educational-research-
articles/6-skills-resolve-conflicts-teachers-parents-buffering-relationships/

15. Resource Bank - 7
Preventing and resolving parent-teacher differences by lilian G. Katz and others
In times of disagreement, teachers should:
• Know the school policy for addressing parent-teacher disagreements. Use discretion
about when and where children and their families are discussed.
• Parents' discussions of disagreements with teachers need to be based on knowing the
facts. Parents can:
• Talk directly with the teacher about the problem.
• Avoid criticizing teachers in front of children.
• Choose an appropriate time and place to discuss the disagreement.
You can find the whole article here:
http://www.Kidsource.Com/kidsource/content3/parent.Teacher.3.Html

16. Resource Bank - 8
Resolving a Conflict With Your Child’s Teacher
• Stay positive! Be careful not to undermine the teacher's authority.
• Listen carefully. In order to get the facts straight, ask your child open-ended questions, then
follow up by asking for specific examples that tell you what you're dealing with.
• Brainstorm solutions together. Your child may have some ideas and opinions about what
she, the teacher, or you can do to fix the problem. Soliciting her input will show her that her
thoughts are valued, and forging a plan together may help her be more receptive to possible
solutions.
• Observe the situation. If the conflict seems to originate from the teacher, get as much
information as you can before scheduling a meeting with her.
• Talk to the teacher. Ask for the teacher's evaluation of the situation and suggestions on how
your child could improve before you express your concerns. Posing questions and avoiding
accusations will yield the best results.
• Connect with the classroom. Volunteering time or keeping in regular contact with the teacher
will help both of you understand each other and communicate better.
• If necessary, meet with the principal. If you feel the situation isn't improving and you aren't
getting an adequate response from the teacher, request a meeting with a school administrator.
• If nothing else works, request your child be moved. Most schools rarely do this because
it's disruptive and can have a negative impact on your child's self-esteem.
You can find the whole article here:
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/parent-teacher-
partnerships/resolving-conflict-your-childs-teacher

17. Resource Bank - 9
How Teachers Can Work with 5 Difficult Types of Parents
The article presents 5 types of conflict situations and suggestions how to resolve them.
These are the 5 types of parents included by the author:
• The over-involved parent
• The absent parent
• The demanding parent
• The defensive parent
• The uncooperative parent
You can find the whole article here:
http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/9762-how-teachers-can-work-with-5-
difficult-types-of-parents?page=1

18. What have we learned today?
 Communication is a crucial element when we want to build a
healthy relationship with parents.
 There are plenty of tips on what to do and what to not do when
you communicate with parents. Study them again after the
session and start implementing.
 There are numerous ways to communicate with parents. (one-
way communication or two-way communication). Evaluate the
methods again and create your own personal communication
strategy.
What else?

19. We hope you are feeling
like this right now and
have a belief that you can
build a strong
relationship with any
parents and solve
conflicts with them.
GOOD LUCK!

20. www.busybeesasia.com
Thank you