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12
Tips for Communicating with Parents
l. Be certain that anything you
distribute to parents in writing is accurately and professionally
done.
2. Keep your own record of
everything you put on paper to parents or school personnel. The easiest
thing is to keep a copy.
3. For notes, permission slips,
reports, requests, and explanations of school activities, use a form
of reproduction that is easy to read (watch out for worn out
originals and bad copy equipment!).
4. Avoid grammar or spelling errors.
5. Write clearly and concisely so
parents will understand your message. Be accurate on times, dates, and
locations.
6. Avoid education jargon.
7. Type your message neatly or
write it clearly in longhand.
8. Send your communication home
far enough in advance so that parents can act if you expect a
response.
9. Ask a colleague to read your
communication before it goes home to see if it can be improved.
10. Give a copy to your administrator.
11. Set up a system for getting
responses back on items like field trip permission slips.
12. Since much of your direct
communication with a parent or administrator is oral (by phone or in
person) with no written record of what was said, keep a log. A
log is useful for recording...
- Feedback to your advice to parents
- Parents' suggestions for helping their
children
- Discipline problems and your responses
- Safety hazards and your responses
- Requests for funds for instructional
materials
- Requests for curriculum adjustments
- Incidents of vandalism or violence
- Difficulties with administrators and
your responses
- Observations and evaluations and your
responses
- Symptoms of student drug or alcohol
abuse and your responses
- Indications of child abuse or neglect
and your responses
Source:
http://www.vtnea.org/ti-1.htm
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