During my recent engage2learn coaching sessions, my coachees told me that since Covid-19, there had been an exponential increase in the communication flow between students, parents, teachers, and administrators. As part of our eGrowe coaching conversation, we collaborated to identify options to manage this new normal. The reality is that according to Kathleen Minke, the executive director of the National Association of School Psychologists: “Teachers want to be available to their students, to clarify their questions and calm their fears. But it’s also crucial that teachers set time aside for themselves, and that schools and districts respect—and even help create—these boundaries.”
The challenges of our new reality require districts to design a comprehensive plan to effectively and efficiently manage communications between teachers, parents and students. No doubt, our educators are in need of support because Round-the-Clock Communication Is Exhausting Teachers.
This blog offers tips to help administrators and educators develop a plan to effectively and efficiently communicate with parents and students.
Review district policy, school guidelines, available paid/free resources, and tools. Network with colleagues and peers. Why reinvent the wheel?
Do you know what mode of communication (i.e., email, text message, Facebook, etc.) works best for your stakeholders? If you don’t know or are unsure: ASK! A quick survey, as well as impromptu conversations, can provide valuable data. Check out this resource to choose the survey tool that works best for you.
Invite all stakeholders to help develop your school’s communication plan during Covid and beyond. Give multiple, diverse, and inclusive platforms to hear all voices! Remember that people support what they help create.
Jot down non-negotiables, expectations, communication methods, timelines, etc. Don’t leave obvious things to chance. Be thorough! Remember, the devil is in the details.
Because phone conversations feel more personal, communicating with parents and students via phone provides limitless opportunities to build authentic connections. You will not only be maintaining positive, supportive relationships with them but will also be strengthening the home-school relationship, and that is a win-win for everyone!
Humanize communications (emails and/or phone calls) by sharing something personal about you, a class story, a student’s anecdote, special events, or outreach programs. Use humor when appropriate. Remember that humor really is our saving grace, and it helps keep us psychologically healthy.
Ensuring effective and efficient school-home communication is everyone’s responsibility. Be clear about expecting and maintaining respectful, proactive, purposeful communication between all stakeholders. Plan ahead! Determine how your teachers will handle contentious conversations with parents or students? What expectations do you have of teachers when dealing with a difficult conversation? What training, resources, or support will you offer before problems arise?
If you struggle with how to get the conversation started, check out this FREE resource: Parent/Guardian Conversation Starters that Increase Engagement
Iterate your plan as needed based on data, feedback, and changes. A plan is as good as the outcomes it produces. Establish systems to seek feedback and gather data on a regular basis. How would you promptly and widely communicate changes made to your communication plan?
Set up routines and schedules for checking and responding to emails and phone calls. Is the expectation to respond to emails between 24-48 hours? Will teachers be expected to do so in the morning and afternoon or during their conference period? Establishing these parameters can help safeguard teachers’ personal time and will create clarity and uniformity.
Ensure consistency of actions and timelines. Breaking protocols and routines can cause confusion and skew expectations parents and students may have about communication parameters. Stick to your plan while always anticipating emergencies or exceptions! During these unprecedented and ever-changing times, it’s a good idea to remain flexible because rigidity may not work in your favor.
Set up voice mails and automatic email replies to better manage the flow of communication. The examples shown below came from some of my engage2learn coachees. Want more information about setting up automated email replies? Then, check out this DIY video or your email system “Help” section.
“I appreciate your communication. You have reached me outside my office hours, which are Monday – Friday 7:45am – 3:30pm. I will get back to you as soon as possible during my office hours. Thank you for understanding.”
“Thank you for your email. I will respond as soon as possible. I can also be reached at (000)000-0000 during the following hours: xxxx. “
“I look forward to responding to your email within 24-48 hours. I am currently busy providing our students with high-quality instructional experiences. I truly appreciate your understanding.”
With so many free and paid web apps available, schools can send immediate notifications to parents. Schools can also tailor communication content quickly. As a result, parents and students have access to information at their fingertips. Keeping the lines of communication open is a necessity and a responsibility all stakeholders share.
Keep in mind that communicating with students and parents is as much about communicating issues, concerns, and important matters as it is about building connections and relationships. Extend grace when possible while also maintaining high expectations for all.
It is my hope that as we navigate these unprecedented times, one of the resulting new normals in our school communities beyond Covid-19 will be stronger parent-teacher relationships and improved communication among all stakeholders. Through it all, we can learn much from each other by forging new ways of thinking about how to best meet our shared goals of nurturing every student’s socio-emotional well-being, academic potential, and life-ready skills.
No doubt that parent-teacher relationships are already becoming stronger and more collaborative, and that is worth all the extra effort! “Together may we give our children the roots to grow and the wings to fly.” (Anonymous)