5 Tips for Communicating with Parents

Do you struggle with knowing how to initiate communication with a parent or guardian? You know it’s important, but you are short on time and can’t support a long conversation. Do you have a communication system set up- is it individualized or consistent for each family?

Parent Teacher communication is essential for a successful team partnership.  Communicating directly with parents allows you to understand a parent’s perspective, and to be aware of their goals, hopes and dreams for their child. You can be a better teacher for that child, by understanding what the child needs.  When parent’s let you know if something unusual is happening at home, you can support the child. 

Here are 5 tips for Successful Communication.

1. Develop a system. Talk with the parent and ask their preferred method of communication: written, verbal, in person, etc. Written: Keep a notebook, you and the parent can write notes back and forth to each other.  Send home a note on the daily communication sheet.  Verbal: If a parent prefers you to call them, find out the best times and the best phone number to reach them.  In-person: When a parent wants to talk to you face to face, find out if they prefer morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up. 
2. Create and keep a parent communication log.  Each time you talk with a parent, jot down a couple of notes.  It only takes a few minutes and it is a sanity saver! You can reference your notes anytime you need to, and there isn’t a question of who you called about the upcoming field trip.  
3. Be respectful.  Even if you disagree with the parent, remember they are the parent.  If mom or dad isn’t ready to discuss a new diagnosis, refrain from discussing it.  If the parents aren’t ready to do activities that you have sent home, that’s ok.  Don’t pressure them.  Parents of special needs kiddos are busy.  They have a lot on their plates.  Respect their needs, their grief process, and their level of school participation.
4. Be brief.  This works both ways.  If you need to talk to the parent for a long time, schedule a conference. Let the parents know at the beginning of the school year that your communication will only take a few minutes.  If they know you aren’t going to be a time vampire on the phone, at school, etc- they will be more willing to communicate with you.  Additionally, if you know a parent can be very chatty, address that at the start of your conversation.  For example: “Mrs. Jones, I love to talk about how Sarah is doing.  Unfortunately, I only have 5 minutes before my meeting.  If you need more time, let’s schedule a meeting later this week.” This lets the parent know you respect their need to communicate, and you will talk to them as soon as possible.  Make sure you give them the time you promised.
5. Sandwich your information.  Tell them something great their child is doing, tell them your concerns, and then tell them strength.  No parent wants to hear a teacher complain about a child for 5 minutes.  They want to know the good about their child.

Share with me your strategies for effective communication!