One of the hardest things that you will have to do as a new teacher is communicating with parents/guardians. There are 2 words that should describe your communication with parents: frequent and open.
Obviously, communication with parents is VERY important but it can be hard due to your concerns about the child or finding the time in the busy day. There are many ways that you can communicate with parents: phone call, email, or note.
One of the keys to effective communication is building a relationship with parents. Parents shouldn't only hear from you when there is a problem or concern. It helps if they hear about positive things that their child has done. I can't stress the importance of positive communication enough.
With that being said, when problems arise in the classroom it is imperative that you communicate with parents. Admittedly, this can be hard, as parents might become upset by what you have to say. The majority of the time I have found that most parents are very receptive to what teachers have to say. I have heard of phone calls going bad, such as a parent claimed the teacher said something and it wasn't true. If it is a potentially contentious conversation that you have to conduct over the phone, then make sure you have someone sit in the the room with you and listen. Make sure that whenever you call a parent that you have any data to back up your concerns. You also need to have your calendar easily accessible for scheduling a face-to-face meeting.
You should make sure to keep a record of your communication... it's helpful to have.. just in case. If you are looking for an easy to use form, check out one that I've created. It's for sale in my TPT store.
There is a very helpful article here about speaking with parents on the phone; it is definitely worth the time to read it.
Another way to communicate with parents is through email. I've found that a lot of parents prefer this method of communication. It's easier for them to get a hold of the teacher. It's also possible to correspond this way outside of school hours. Also, it's great because you automatically have a record of your communication.
When emailing parents consider your wording very carefully, because it can be easily misconstrued. And vice versa! Don't jump to conclusions based on what you think the tone is. I've been guilty of that. It's a good idea to have a colleague read the parent's email or yours.
It is likely that you will receive several notes each morning. It's a good idea to have a place for students to put these notes, instead of handing them to you or piling on your desk. (Chances are these notes will predominately be about changes in dismissal routine.)
There are two main ways that I communicate with parents through notes.
My team uses a system that a colleague had developed and we've fine tuned over time. We send home a Friday Folder (it's really a binder) with graded assignments, a missing homework chart, and a communication log. The log allows us to write a note to parents about any concerns and/or give positive concerns. It also provides an easy place for parents to communicate with the teachers. It's extremely useful because we know that we are communicating with each parent every week.
I also use something called a Rock Star Note. If a student reaches the top level on the behavior clipchart, then I send home a note that lets their parent know. Students LOVE getting these notes. I copy a stack of these notes so that it is easy for me to fill it out.
What are some ways that you communicate with parents?
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