Having effective communication with your students families can be difficult. It may seem scary to begin relationships with families. If you find it far easier to communicate with little humans, rather than larger ones, you are not alone. When I first started teaching I honestly avoided calling, reaching out or attempting to create valuable relationship’s. Relationship’s that I would now not trade for the world. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to know the families of my students but rather because I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, accidentally. Along the way I have learned that there are a few key steps to building those important conversations that leave everyone feeling happy and involved.
Step One for Effective Communication: Use Active Listening Skills.
This one is really important and truly matters if your goal is to have effective communication with your students’ families. Active listening is very intentional. You should not be trying to come up with your response when the other person is taking. Instead, try to be very present in the moment. Take into consideration every word, concern and feeling the person you are speaking to is having in that given moment. Then you can respectfully take a moment to compile your thoughts and respond in the most empathetic way that you can.
It can be hard for families to let their child have their own experiences. Sometimes the need to protect and the best of intentions can get in the way of opportunities for growth. Being that sounding board for families can allow them to feel confident giving their children opportunities for independence in a safe, structured way.
Step Two: respond within a reasonable amount of time to ensure effective communication.
You won’t always be near your computer; teachers have busy schedules but check back often and answer as soon as you can. Part of effective communication is valuing and respecting concerns and communication from your families. It is essential to validate your families’ feelings and let them feel heard. There is nothing worse than having your students family feel like their safety concerns are not being addressed. Parents send their children off into the world with trained professionals, but those same adults are essentially strangers. As professionals it is important that we develop and foster kind welcoming relationships not only with our students but with their families. Because truly without them, there would be no profession to be had.
Step Three: use one main mode of effective communication and make it reliable.
Whether you prefer to make phone calls, write emails or use a platform adapted by your board, just be consistent.
If you have emails, messages and phone calls all coming in daily you will not be able to keep on top of it all. Messages can be missed or easily forgotten when they come in a variety of ways. Reach out to your parents with your preferred communication method and stick to it. I always prefer to write. It helps me remember conversations and also documents for me so that my tired brain doesn’t jumble the information. Occasionally a phone call is the better way and I do that as needed. Some colleagues think phones calls are the way and I support that. I personally find it difficult to sit and have a proper conversation in the length of time that I am given in a day so I prefer to write as a back and forth so the relationships I am forming can happen more organically, over time.
Last but not least, lead with positive comments more than negative ones and connect often.
If you have a student that is needing extra communication with their family, it can quickly become a negative without intention. If you are phoning to share undesirable behaviours that you feel need to be addressed, make sure you are also commenting on your students’ strengths. There are always good choices your students are making throughout their day even if they feel overshadowed by poor choices. Remember you are commenting about someone’s child, and it can be very draining if all communication is negative. I like to take the two stars and a wish approach whenever I need to discuss student behavior. I say two things that I saw that day that were good choices, then I address any important choices made that need my attention. Keep being amazing.
With Love, C.
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