Hi! Kristen here from PA! I teach 6th grade physical science! I don’t usually chat on a Friday night. elect. Stim is awful and I need a distraction! #engagechat
A1: Effective communication is to convey your intended message to a targeted audience in such a way as to ensure they understand what exactly you are trying to tell them #EngageChat
A1: It’s making sure you are clearly stating what you need to say, using “I” statements and also being an excellent listener to the person/people you are conversing with. #EngageChat
A1: Effective Communication is ensuring all stakeholders are part of decision making process. Even if not all needs can be accommodated, and the answer can't always be yes, effective communicators explain WHY #engagechat
A1: It’s making sure you are clearly stating what you need to say, using “I” statements and also being an excellent listener to the person/people you are conversing with. #EngageChat
A1: When what is communicated is received and understood as communicated, and that communication is then acknowledged with an appropriate response, thereby successfully including all parties in the communication process. #engagechat
A1. Eff. Comm.-Being able to express oneself both written and verbally, asking questions, listening skills, nonverbal comm. skills, and being clear and consise as to directions and points! #engagechat
A1: Strong communication is personalized. Some people prefer face to face, some prefer email, some like to chat or use social media. The key is to ASK teachers, parents, colleagues how they prefer to communicate! #engagechat
#EngageChat A1: Wow @daviswelcome you sure believe in starting big! Effective communication is having the tools to achieve clarity of message leading to collaborating in meaning-making.
Hi, parent and @ParentCamp-er from Connecticut.
A1) Effective communication is targeted toward your intended audience and serves its purpose. #EngageChat
A1: Effective communication is timely, is reciprocal, active, occurs in multiple formats and multiple times, is relevant, accurate, conveyed succinctly, can be digested easily, and is open. #engagechat
A1: Strong communication is personalized. Some people prefer face to face, some prefer email, some like to chat or use social media. The key is to ASK teachers, parents, colleagues how they prefer to communicate! #engagechat
True! I also think that we need to promote #f2f when issues are complex and email threads become so long you could use them to knit a sweater! #engagechat
A2: Effective communication ensures all stakeholders (faculty, staff, students, etc) are all united towards common goals. Lack of effective communication leads to disunity and conflicting visions. #engagechat
A2: It creates a feeling that all voices are heard, valued, appreciatd, and honored. There are clear expectations, clear directions, clear request. By doing so school members are all on the same page and a unified force. #EngageChat
A2: It gets everyone to hear the same message and on the same page. Staff (and students) feel more confident if they are in the loop and well informed. People just want to know. #engagechat
A2: it builds trust which is a core element of a healthy school culture. When stakeholders know they are getting the most reliable story straight from the source, you have a winner! #engagechat
A1: Effective communication is when both parties feel their intended message is received and acknowledged; whether that requires a response or not. For ongoing effective communication, both parties need to feel heard, understood, and respected. #engagechat
A2: it builds trust which is a core element of a healthy school culture. When stakeholders know they are getting the most reliable story straight from the source, you have a winner! #engagechat
A2) School culture is as much from the outside as within. Communication with all who have a stake in the school—including families and neighborhoods—build the reputation needed for a positive culture. #K12PRchat#EngageChat
@daviswelcome Q1 #engagechat Toughest thing for me because I teach kids all over our city is using tech and breaking down barriers. Either way effective #communication is sending the MOST important information to ensure its #madetostick
A2: May it be face to face visits, hugs, pats on the back, observe me posts, email, texts, PMs, cards, posters, Flipgrid responses... construct feedback (staff to staff or staff to student) and positive notes can create a positive culture #EngageChat
A2. Being clear and consise as to expectations, sharing with all stakeholders present in building, modelling, positivity, sharing shoutouts, compliments, good news, help encourage a good school culture!#engagechat
A1 Administrators, staff and students have confidence and trust among each other, thanks to effective communication that promises and delivers clear intent and support. #EngageChat
A2: Because if everyone has a voice, and if everyone is heard, and if everyone is engaged in reaching a common agreed-upon goal, then the culture will be positive - which will enable students to have a happy and safe place to learn. #engagechat
A2: Effectice communication keeps everyone focused and in the know about what is important. It is key to building relationships and trust with those we serve. #engagechat
A2: Effectice communication keeps everyone focused and in the know about what is important. It is key to building relationships and trust with those we serve. #engagechat
A2: Effective communication allows school culture to be established and maintained by setting clear expectations, actively listening to others, providing consistent feedback/input, encouraging collaboration and team/member check-ins, and following through!! #engagechat
A2: Transparency is everything. Telling me what means nothing if you don’t tell me the why. Explain your why and I can get behind anything, as long as it supports kids. #EngageChat
A3: Communicate before issues or problems arise. Building positive relationships can help prevent problems from happening, and make them easier to solve when they do. #engagechat
A2: Transparency is everything. Telling me what means nothing if you don’t tell me the why. Explain your why and I can get behind anything, as long as it supports kids. #EngageChat
A3: You have the twitter, newsletters, email, etc., but the good ole fashion way of having one-on-one conversations or catching them in the pick-up line is still the best. #engagechat
A3: when introducing a new strategy, share the rationale with parents. More often than not, they will become your biggest allies if you keep them in the loop #engagechat
A3: Weekly newsletters, Ss planners, postcards home, classroom websites; phone calls.. building trusting relationships and creating a bridge between school and home. #EngageChat
A3: when introducing a new strategy, share the rationale with parents. More often than not, they will become your biggest allies if you keep them in the loop #engagechat
A3: I have staff send weekly memos to families... we also post them in the hall by the office so that if a parent comes in to complain about a teachers communication, homework, etc. I can walk them to the hall and ask if they have seen the weekly memo #engagechat
A3: For starters, asking questions about what their child is interested in; perceived strengths and weaknesses; what are their hopes and dreams for their child. #engagechat
A:3 There many options for communication from teachers to parents but too often it is one sided. We must foster two way communication & that goes back to personalization. I think a phone call or face to face is still best practice but technology has opened new doors! #EngageChat
A3: Weekly newsletters, Ss planners, postcards home, classroom websites; phone calls.. building trusting relationships and creating a bridge between school and home. #EngageChat
A1: Ts can email, notes in agendas, weekly newsletters, phone calls. Keeping families informed about what is happening in your room and with their child builds a strong bond between Ts and home. Important for student success. #engagechat
A3) The effective way is not one single way. Use various means to reach them. Technology, particularly communications that use texting (the most likely technological means they have access to), has provided a wonderful opportunity. And social media and sharing sites! #EngageChat
A3: Phone calls, visits, emails, texts, pictures, postcards, hand-written letters, invitations to be a class guest, monthly/weekly/bi-weekly newsletters, blogs/vlogs, private class Instagram page, class dojo, monthly class meeting/event #engagechat
A3 Effective staff communication with parents starts early and often, not wanting for incidents to pass along bad news. Regular contact breeds familiarity and conversation so staff and parents become partners in students' education. #EngageChat
A3: I have communicated with parents through Conference, notes home, phone calls, texts, PMs, Vlass Newsletters, Skype, home visits... whatever I can do within reason to build a team for the sake of the child. #engagechat
A2: Transparency is everything. Telling me what means nothing if you don’t tell me the why. Explain your why and I can get behind anything, as long as it supports kids. #EngageChat
I don't think even the best communication can do that. And perhaps it shouldn't; the way we interpret the world defines us. But it's certainly designed to reduce conflict and make people feel included. #EngageChat
A3: Being proactive is everything. I love the idea of newsletters, but parents are busy. How can we communicate in short bursts—- Social media. I also think about systems of equity. How can we communicate things that happen that not all can attend? Accessibility. #EngageChat
Newsletter, Remind, frequently updated teacher website...whatever works best for the parent. The support they can provide is worth using their preferred platform. #EngageChat
A3.2 We also use BlackBoard Connect to do text, email and voicemail messages. I'm careful not to do too many but when it's important we send a message! #engagechat
A3: Be proactive, responsive, visible, available, culturally competent. Use technology as needed but don’t underestimate the value of personal connections. Care and compassion transcend all languages and cultures and a smile is understood by all. #engagechat
I utilize Smore to communicate with staff and parents! One of my favorite communication tools. See my blog post to learn more about how I use it.
https://t.co/GnRsH3OERS@SmorePages#engagechat
A4: Parents are frustrated and angry. Things are chaotic and now well thought out and the secretary gets bombarded with questions about things she/he has no idea about. The office is miserable place to be when communication with parents breaks down. #engagechat
A4: There’s always communication. The question is whether or not it’s intentional and purposeful. If you leave a void there, others will surely fill it. #engagechat
It requires a lot of flexibility. The nice thing about tech is it's becoming more and more integrated. So the teacher may use his/her preferred platform while the family can receive it on their own preferred one (or two or three). #EngageChat
Newsletter, Remind, frequently updated teacher website...whatever works best for the parent. The support they can provide is worth using their preferred platform. #EngageChat
A2: its the roots. It keeps the school culture healthy and always growing... and can prevent a crisis in the community (mudslide) from taking out half the mountain. Ineffective communication = slippery slopes #engagechat
A4: People will fill in the lack of communication with their own ideas... Mostly wrong or the ideas they get from their kids who communicate with them constantly! #engagechat
A4: Lack of clear communication results in frustrated and confused staff who eventually disengage themselves from the school's vision. People may just start to form their own "rules" as their own interpretation of what should or should not be done. #engagechat
A4: No communication means no purpose. One-sided communication is just as detrimental. How do we create systems where communication becomes collaborative? I can put a thousand things out, but if I don’t take anything in, is that really communication or notification? #EngageChat
#EngageChat A3: Kids are best served when: 1. They are kept at the center of adult conversations 2. Teachers realize that parents sometimes need to just be heard first 3. Parents at their ‘wits end’ can consider a first, realistic step forward for their child.
A4: It's Lord of the Flies. Everyone for themselves. There is also a culture built through bad communication. Folks know what I'm talking about! #engagechat
All important points. Equity shouldn't hold back efforts (equity is a neverending goal) but the reality of inequity mans additional efforts to reach everyone. #EngageChat
A3: Being proactive is everything. I love the idea of newsletters, but parents are busy. How can we communicate in short bursts—- Social media. I also think about systems of equity. How can we communicate things that happen that not all can attend? Accessibility. #EngageChat
A4: I think effect communication is based on your audience. Some like “the full story” some want “to the point” and some don’t want to know. No matter the audience, remaining true and clear to the goal is best #engagechat
A3: I have communicated with parents through Conference, notes home, phone calls, texts, PMs, Vlass Newsletters, Skype, home visits... whatever I can do within reason to build a team for the sake of the child. #engagechat
A1: so many ways to answer this question! We have a desire to be "in the know" and up to speed. We also value seeking and giving input and ideas. Effective communication manifests from seeking information first, then synthesizing what we learned from asking. #EngageChat
A2: Effective communication gives everyone a voice. People who are heard feel valued. People who feel valued are more open to trust. Trust & relationships = Strong Culture #engagechat
As a parent I like opportunities to be face to face, but that's not practical regularly. As long as I have access to other means, I prefer the consistency. #EngageChat
A3 Effective staff communication with parents starts early and often, not wanting for incidents to pass along bad news. Regular contact breeds familiarity and conversation so staff and parents become partners in students' education. #EngageChat
A4: as I eluded to in (A2) the side of the mountain falls off...taking staff & students w/ it. Communication can also appear to be surface level but if it's not deeply "rooted" in trust among stakeholders the culture will not be strong enough to withstand the wind #engagechat
A4: There is no direction, no understanding, and eventually chaos ensues. When ppl feel uninformed, they lose interest, respect, and most importantly they lose trust! #engagechat
In those situations, all you can really do is focus on your reaction to things. Stay professional. Do what's best for your students. Rise above the fold. #engagechat
A3: when introducing a new strategy, share the rationale with parents. More often than not, they will become your biggest allies if you keep them in the loop #engagechat
A5: I like group texting--I always ask the staff if they mind getting a periodic text from me. A bulletin board behind the copy machine--bright and beautiful. #oldschool#engagechat
A5: At the risk of sounding trite, the key for a leader when it comes to effective communication is all about relationships. It’s also helpful to remember that there’s usually no such thing as over-communication. #engagechat
A5 Effective communication from a leader starts with attentive listening. That's listening to understand, not paying lip service to give a pat, canned and ultimately useless response. Effectively communicate to effectively lead. #EngageChat
A4: Momentum is lost. We only get to start the school year once. Without communication, without clarity of vision, and time to recommit to goal, we gradually lose our collective efficacy and we become pockets of excellence with some other stuff going on! #engagechat
A5: Listen to understand. Not listen to reply. Empathise with the other party's concerns even if you think you have heard them hundreds of times before because each individual is unique. Be clear what you want to communicate. Use as simple a language as possible. #engagechat
A5: 1. Know your audience. 2. Stay positive. 3. Have difficult conversations in person, not e-mail. 4. LISTEN 5. Always remain focused on the purpose... CHILDREN! 6. Remember and reinforce that we are a TEAM working for this child... These Children! #engagechat
A5: Keep it simple. Be loyal to the absent. Respond quickly even if just to say "I'm working on it." and no more than 3 emails before you pick up the phone! #engagechat
And that 20% is a big chunk. Funny, reminds me of RtI. Just as you need Tier 2 or 3 interventions for certain students, perhaps it's the same with families that don't have the same level of access. And just as with kids, it's not a choice to leave them behind. #EngageChat
In reply to
@MrsAmandaHeaton, @JasonSalhaney, @flyingmonkey13
A5: it 100% depends on the leader and their teams. I think it would great for an administrator to use @voxer but so far I haven't met one that does... yet! #engagechat
A5: without communication the mission can be lost, the path is not set and chaos may ensure because people will assume the end result without knowing the end goal #EngageChat
I think meeting them where they are at. One way is by hosting parent conferences in the community rather than at the school. Offering resources & support to the family to build and strengthen trust. It takes a holistic approach.
In reply to
@flyingmonkey13, @JeremyDBond, @JasonSalhaney
A5. I like to have Ss explain to their P waht they did during the STEM time. Ss can show projects and activities to P. They can ask questions, we can discuss growth, learning to explore, if interested, problem areas. #engagechat
A5: We can’t possibly overcommunicate as leaders. I can say it, it doesn’t mean people hear it. We need people to show understanding of communication by having the opportunity to be heard. Educators have a thousand things on their plate, my message is a blip. #EngageChat
A5: Find a tool that works for you and use it! My tool is Smore and I use it weekly. I use it to share quotes, articles, updates, important dates, Gerry Brooks videos, kiddos/shoutouts and anything else I think Ppl need.
Want to know more? https://t.co/GnRsH3x40k#engagechat
A5: Listen!!! When a leader actively listens, they will get more than just the surface talk/issue/idea, they will discover underlying motivations, concerns, goals, fears, ambitions, and hopes for what they want to see happen! #engagechat
#EngageChat. A5: Try hard to get out of the office as much as possible for as many face to face interactions with both teachers and students as possible.
Yes. I agree. Over-communication is always a better alternative to under-communication but you probably don't need an email every time someone puts on a pot of coffee... or maybe you do... I'm just not a coffee drinker ;-) @agudteach - love you girl! #engagechat
Thanks @daviswelcome for moderating the chat. Great ideas about communication. I am going to check out the @SmorePages and @voxer to see what they are about. #engagechat
A5. I like to have Ss explain to their P waht they did during the STEM time. Ss can show projects and activities to P. They can ask questions, we can discuss growth, learning to explore, if interested, problem areas. #engagechat
Fairly good impact, when I meet the ltents at their comfort level in communication, they almost always communicate back. (Even the “hard to reach” parents when your willing to find their contact style. #EngageChat
A5: We can’t possibly overcommunicate as leaders. I can say it, it doesn’t mean people hear it. We need people to show understanding of communication by having the opportunity to be heard. Educators have a thousand things on their plate, my message is a blip. #EngageChat
