What I Wish I Knew About Parent Communication as a New Teacher
Amy SheppardAmy Sheppard
Articles by Amy
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What I Wish I Knew About Parent Communication as a New Teacher
Published: Jul 19, 2021
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6 Tips for Communicating with Parents
Published: Jul 09, 2021
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The Power of Positive Parent Communication
Published: Jun 28, 2021
I used to be very intimidated by parents because I was afraid of upsetting them. It would hurt my feelings terribly if someone was upset with me because I was trying so hard. But there are a few things I wish I knew my first year of teaching about parent communications that would have calmed my nerves quite a bit.
When it comes to “being you”, focus on finding a style of communication that works best for you. Not everything has to be done over one specific channel of communication. Do what works best for you and the situation. My personal preference is email, but that’s not the same for every teacher. I have colleagues who prefer phone calls. There’s no one right way.
You can learn more of my tips for communicating with parents here, and tips for proactively communicating with parents here.
- Don’t take things personally.
- It’s okay to not know what to say.
- Be honest and be you.
When it comes to “being you”, focus on finding a style of communication that works best for you. Not everything has to be done over one specific channel of communication. Do what works best for you and the situation. My personal preference is email, but that’s not the same for every teacher. I have colleagues who prefer phone calls. There’s no one right way.
- Focus on the positives.
You can learn more of my tips for communicating with parents here, and tips for proactively communicating with parents here.