Teachers, regardless of grade level, face the daunting task of managing a classroom full of students. Yet, one of the greatest challenges lies in communicating effectively with the parents of these students. Even experienced teachers can find this task daunting.
Interestingly, what parents primarily seek when engaging with teachers is simply to feel heard. While teachers undoubtedly have valuable insights to offer, parents desire inclusion in the dialogue. Hence, it’s crucial for teachers to prioritize active listening.
When it’s their turn to speak, teachers should aim for clarity, avoiding jargon, and maintain professionalism in all interactions. This extends even to responses to texts or emails. While they may not always be the timeliest, but they do signal commitment to communication and relationship-building.
These updates and regular parental involvement, even in difficult situations, are key. Balancing active listening with providing feedback to parents presents a challenge, however, further guidance on mastering this balance can be found in the resource included alongside this post. Check it out for more valuable insights!
First-Time Teacher’s Guide For Talking To Parents provided by Silke Lessner, an organization offering courses focused on conflict resolution for teachers
