Seven Secrets to Effective Teacher-Parent Communication

In a previous post, I identified ten ways that educators could establish effective communication with parents. Communication however, is a two way street.  Parents also have a responsibility and an opportunity to establish a relationship with their child’s teacher. Here are seven ways for parents to create open communication while empowering your child to be a leader in their own right:

Seven Secrets to Effective Teacher-Parent Communication

1. Express appreciation- Everyone wants to be appreciated-teachers included. Look for a way early on to express your gratitude for the teacher’s hard work and dedication in the classroom.  Even if you have areas of concern, begin with the positive and set a positive tone.
2. Determine the regular routines for communication and stay engaged – Does work go home once weekly or daily? How often should you check agendas, backpacks, special folders? Is there a weekly newsletter that you can read to stay abreast of classroom activities?  Be proactive and don’t wait for there to be a problem to get involved.
3. Determine the time frames that teachers are available and respect them –  Do they prefer a note?  an email?  When is it too late to call?   We all have busy, complicated lives that involve juggling many roles and teachers need time with their families away from the demands of work.
4. Be authentic – Let teachers know about changes and challenges that your child may be facing.  Is the family going through a stressful time at home?  Have they been sick?  Are they on medication that might affect their performance?  Any of these things can impact a child’s ability to focus and excel  in the classroom.  The more the teacher knows about your child, the better the chance they will connect in a positive way.
5. Be open to suggestions – Even if it is a new way of doing things, listen when teachers suggest alternative ways of teaching a child new concepts.  What may have worked well previously may not be the best approach as your child develops and changes. You don’t have to follow every suggestion but honor the request with your attention.
6. Share your expertise and insight – As a parent,  you are the expert on your child. You know their history, their abilities and their quirks.  Share what you know so teachers can teach to their strengths.
7. Encourage and empower your child to be an effective communicator and leader – While it’s important for you as the parent to stay involved with your child’s teacher, it’s equally important for your child to learn what they are responsible for and how to communicate their needs.  Communicating with the teacher doesn’t mean taking over your child’s responsibilities or solving all their problems for them.  Instead, model for them how to be a leader and problem solver in their own life.  As it is age appropriate, transfer that responsibility for  effective communication to them.  After all it is their academic success and only they can achieve it.

Other ideas?  I’d love to hear them in the comments section…

Elementary School Counselor Resource

Wyatt the Wonder Dog Learns about Friendship

It’s not easy being the new kid at school, especially if you are a cat and everyone else is a dog.  How do you make friends?  Can you even be friends with someone who is totally different from you?  Wyatt the Wonder Dog helps solve Ami’s friendship problem with empathy and compassion. A great story for teaching children the critical life skill of making friends.

As a public school elementary counselor, Wyatt offers so much about making and keeping friends.  I will use this book as a resource for whole classroom, small group and individual discussions, raising issues that affect real life situations.~Cindy Little, School Counselor, Georgia Elementary School, Milton, Vermont

Wyatt Learns about Friendship

TPT: Six Lessons to Develop Empathy

Brand New!

The Elementary School Counselor Book of Leadership Lesson Plans

This book is a treasure trove of lessons, activities and discussion starters to nurture tomorrow’s leaders through developing critical thinking skills and growth mindset. It includes twenty-eight lesson plans based on Stephen Covey’s seven habits of highly effective people, bibliographies, activities, problem situation cards, ASCA Mindset and Behavior Standards and learning assessments.

Grab your copy HERE

December Special

Wyatt the Wonder Dog

Book and Puppet 

Kids got the gimmes? Focused on what they will get for gifts?…

Here’s a story to change the focus to what they can give instead. Everyone can be a giver, no matter what age. 

So we’ve created a special holiday package for all the Wyatt fans out there:

Yep you got it… You can get Wyatt the Wonder Dog Learns about Giving and the Wyatt puppet to help you tell the story. 

Just like all the Wyatt books, the story is a grab ‘n go lesson with discussion questions and a holiday activity in the back of the book.

Supplies are limited so grab it now: