Parent Communication:

1. Parent Communication: We Are ALLin this Together Erica m. duckworth, M.Ed.

2. Let’s Get Together

3. Why Work Together? • The whole is greater than the sum of our parts. • People are intelligent • Opinions are like… • Input = Buy in • Accountability in decisions • Conflict management • Building relationships • Enhance trust

4. What Does the Research Suggest? • Parental involvement is 2 times more important in predicting academic success than socioeconomic status. • Students who have involved parents have: • Higher grades • Higher graduation rates • Better attendance • Increased motivation • Better self-esteem • Lower rates of suspension • Decreased drug and alcohol abuse • Less instances of aggressive behaviors • BUT when further investigated it was parental attitude towards education and the school environment that was the major contributing factor RATHER than frequency of parent interaction at school.

5. Bringing it to the Table

6. Sometimes We Don’t Speak the Same Language • Dear school: please excuse John being absent on Jan 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33. • My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him. • Please excuse Amanda for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot. • Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

7. Are You Listening? Hearing Listening • Physiological sensory processes by which auditory sensations are received by the ears and transmitted by the brain. • A commitment to understand how others think and feel.

8. “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said. ” ~ Peter F. Drucker(1909-2005); Professor, Writer, Management Consultant “The first duty of love is to listen.”~ Paul Tillich(1886-1965); Theologian, Philosopher

9. Group Discussion

10. Where’s the Breakdown

11. This is Your Brain on Conversation

12. Why Listen

13. Seems PE Can Be Problematic • Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip. • Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part. • Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating.

14. Books & Their Covers SometimesItTakesMoreThanMedication

15. One Way Communication • When a person’s intentions are to inform another of an event • Written letters • School to home journal • Newsletter • Classroom website • Literacy bags • Video • Data

16. Paying It Forward Hello Denton My name is Mrs. Duckworth . I will be your teacher at the Lumberton Intermediate School I hope you can come visit new classrooms and playground on August 4th .

17. Parent Surveyhttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-3-2-1

18. Student Info 1. Full name:___________________________________________________________ 2. Nickname: _________________________ 3. DOB: ______________________ 4. Do you have a job (circle one)? Yes / No   If you circled “yes,” where do you work? ______________________________________ If you circled “yes,” how many hours/week do you work on average? _______________ 5. Are you a member of any clubs, organizations, athletic teams, etc. (circle one)? Yes / No  If you circled “yes,” please list which ones: ____________________________________ 6.   What are your plans for after high school_____________________________________ 7. Please list the last 3 books you’ve read: _______________________________________

19. Reinforcer Inventorywww.keystoneatlanta.org/downloads/ReinforcementInventory.pdf

20. School to Home Communicationhttp://au.mayer-johnson.com/gfx/tips/0909-communication.gifhttp://www.setbc.org/pictureset/SubCategory.aspx?id=73

21. Correspondence

22. Concerns

23. Positive Feedback

24. Documentationhttp://pinterest.com/pin/106116134940499804/http://www.lauracandler.com/strategies/caringclass.phpDocumentationhttp://pinterest.com/pin/106116134940499804/http://www.lauracandler.com/strategies/caringclass.php

25. The Teacher’s Assistant App

26. It Happens • Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels. • Please excuse Pedro from being absent yesterday. He had diahredyreadireathe the sh**s. • Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.

27. Two Way Communication • An interactive dialog between two people • Phone call • Email • Teacher conference • ARD Meetings • Parent night / Open house

28. Save the Date Invitation Reminder

29. Pre-Conference Questionnaire • In order to prepare for our upcoming conference, please answer the questions below. Please return this sheet to school by_________________________. • What subject is your child’s favorite? • What subject is most difficult for your child? • Does your child participate in any after school hobbies or activities? • What friends does your child talk about from school? • As your child’s teacher, how can I best help your child? • What questions would you like to have answered during our conference?

30. Setting the Stage

32. ParentConference Form http://imom.com/tools/get-organized/teacher-conference-worksheet/

33. Student Self Evaluation http://fearless5thgrade.blogspot.com/#uds-search-results

34. Teacher Conference Rubric – Elementary https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B50Gu_V7yTFSUDFaa2NGWUNUeGkzUENjT0s2eF9hdw/edit?pli=1

35. Parent-Conference Preparation Guide Conference requested by:______________ Date of conference: _______ Time of conference: __________ Location: __________ Persons requested to attend: Date notified: Primary concern of person(s) requesting conference: Student strengths: 1. 2. 3. Student weaknesses: 1. 2. 3. Current grade averages: Suggestions for improvement: Teacher Conference Rubric – Secondary

36. The Student Led Conferencehttp://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/free-resources/family-outreach/student-led-conferences • Angela Watson of The Cornerstone lists the advantages of student led conferences as follows: • Shows parents and students that their opinions are valued by the teacher • empower the child to take responsibility for her learning • give the parent and teacher a chance to hear the student reflect on his progress in his own words • reassure students that parents and teacher are there to support them • hold students accountable for their academic and behavioral choices • give the parent the opportunity to see the teacher and child interact • provide the teacher with insight about parent-child relationships/home structure • take unnecessary pressure off of the teacher by focusing on the student and his/her work samples

37. Sample Agenda – Student Led Conferencehttp://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/free-resources/family-outreach/student-led-conferences

38. Tips for Success • Smile & welcome parents • Maintain eye contact • Listen carefully • Remain positive • Stick to the topic • Stay on schedule • Display student’s work in the waiting area • Follow steps • Welcome • Present purpose and info • Allow time for ?s • Develop plan • Wrap up meeting • End on positive note

39. The Sandwich Technique • Start with + feedback • Provide constructive criticism • End on a + note

40. Compare/Talk about other students • Talk about yourself • Overwhelm parents with too much • Allow parents to back you into a • wall making you say something you would regret. • Talk down to parents – We Are In • This Together

41. Room for Improvement • Identify no more than 3 areas for improvement • Data • Teacher observation/concerns • Parent observation/concerns • Provide literature on evidenced based strategies that will assist the student with specific needs • Brainstorm a plan with parent(s) • Provide materials that support this plan

42. Plan of Action • Develop an action plantogether • Agree on specific plans for both the teacher and parent • Be sure you both understand your roles • Determine a way to check on the student’s progress • Decide on a means of communication and a timeline • Follow up and review progress of the plan

44. Consensus

45. Thank you & Closure

46. Post Conference Survey

47. Continued

48. Icing on the Cake Dear (Parent), Thank you for attending our recent parent teacher conference. I appreciate the time you took to meet with me and hope the conference provided you with valuable insight into your child’s educational performance. I look forward to our continued partnership throughout the remainder of the school year. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any other questions or concerns.

49. Resources Christopher, C. (1996). Building parent teacher communication: An educator’s guide. Lancaster, PA: Technomic Publishing Company, Inc. McCarney, S. B. & Wunderlich, K.C. (2006). Pre-referral intervention manual (3rd ed.). S.N. House (Ed.) Columbia, MO: Hawthorne. Otey, L. & McDaniel, L. (2008). Facilitating IEPs: Leader’s Guide. [Handout]. Austin, TX: Region 8 Service Center. Payne, R.K. (2008). Under-resourced learners: 8 strategies to boost student achievement. Highlands, TX: Aha! Process Inc. Payne, R.K. (2006). Working with parents: Building relationships for student success. Highlands, TX: Aha! Process Inc. Sprick, R., & Garrison, M. (2008). Interventions: Evidence-based behavioral strategies for individual students (2nd ed). Eugene, OR: Pacific Northwest Publishing.