Meet the Parents Effective communication with children’s families

Families today…. 8Different configurations and relationships; 8Parents overscheduled, and so are children; 8Products of a culture of entitlement; 8Consider the children helpless or gifted; 8Children are alone more; 8Expect the school to furnish many services.

What do we expect from parents? 8Support for school policies; 8Support for teachers’ decisions; 8Help with homework and assignments; 8Response to teachers’ notes, messages; 8Presence at school activities; 8Provision of school supplies, lunch, clothing; 8Supplement/follow- through with lessons; 8Accountability for children’s whereabouts

What do parents expect? 8Quality instruction; 8Order and discipline in school and classroom; 8Fairness; 8Individual consideration of the child; 8Updates on child’s progress; 8Communication of problems; 8Teachers’ presence at activities; 8Bang for the buck.

Communication media 8School/classroom newsletters 8Notes, letters 8Phone calls 8P/T conferences 8 s

When should teachers contact parents? 8Concern over academic progress; 8Behavior problems; 8Learning difficulties; 8Serious incidents that may involve health/safety 8Discussion of child’s accomplishments; 8Get acquainted; 8Reminders 8Schedule a meeting or conference

Hints: 8Written notes should be free of grammar, spelling errors. 8Your principal should see every note that goes home. 8Check that the note describes the child’s behavior, problem. It should not label the child.

More Hints 8NEVER give out your personal address or home phone number. 8Face-to-face is always best. 8Always be objective and focused on behavior; beware labels or names. 8NEVER prescribe a medical solution. 8Have sample of child’s work available.

Even more hints: 8Avoid argument; keep focused on the subject. 8NEVER compare siblings. 8Start meetings with a prayer. 8Don’t get personal; you’re the professional. 8Set up the objectives before the meeting. 8Check for understanding/use follow-up.

A note: Susie is usually prompt with assignments and works hard in class. Lately, however, she has failed to turn in assignments, and seems to have stopped trying hard to learn. Write a note to Susie’s parents describing the problem and suggesting a solution. Share your note with a neighbor and point out effective and ineffective points.

A phone call Kyle has been observed hitting other students in his sixth grade class. Several of his classmates have complained to you that Kyle threatens them with retaliation if they don’t share their homework and other assignments. Make a phone call to Kyle’s parents to share this information and discuss what should be done.

A conference Tiffany’s mother has called to schedule a conference with you. She won’t tell you what she wants to discuss. What do you do?

A conference Tiffany’s mother, a single parent, has been told by her daughter that you don’t like her because her father is not present in the home. Tiffany also has told her mother that you always make fun of her assignments because they aren’t always done on a computer.

Remember: Parents expect you to provide personal attention to their children. Parents expect you to know your material and your craft. Parents expect you to be fair in your handling of various situations. What goes on in the classroom is curriculum; what leaves the classroom is marketing. Parents expect communication.