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3 Tips for difficult conversations:
Begin with student's strengths- and make sure to keep a balance of positive remarks when discussing student's possible challenges.
Ask parents what’s working or not working at home and listen. Teachers can learn a lot about a child’s home life this way as well as strategies parents have or haven’t tried. This can be particularly useful when considering practical strategies for working on certain skills. (Potter, 2008)
Avoid teacher jargon. Using teacher jargon in communicating with parents can cause confusion and leave them feeling inferior. This is an especially important consideration for parents who are English language learners. (McKlean, 2017)
These have all been so important in my communication with parents.
McKean, L. E. (2017). How jargon affects learning and relationships. NSRF Connections, 2016-2017(2), 10-11. Retrieved from https://www.nsrfharmony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/How-jargon-affects-learning.pdf
Potter, L. (2008). Difficult Conversations: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Principal Leadership: Middle Level Edition, 8(8), 32–35.
Additional useful resources:
Edutopia: 20 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships with Parents
Scholastic: Five Keys to Successful Parent-Teacher Communication
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