ABC’s of CommuniCAting
with Parents
presented by
Marlon Cousin
Title I Coordinator of Parental Involvement
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Why is parental
involvement important?
 A synthesis of the research concluded that “the
evidence is consistent, positive, and convincing: families
have a major influence on their children’s achievement
in school and through life.
 When schools, families, and community groups work
together to support learning, children tend to do better in
school, stay in school longer, and like school more.”
Better Schools. Better Futures.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Makes a Difference
Respect is key for both parents and teachers throughout
the year. Conferences will be successful when attitudes of
respect and gratitude are communicated in both directions.
Parents need to walk away from conferences with hope.
Have sincere, specific praise to give to the parents.
Parents also want an honest appraisal of their child’s
weaknesses.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Before the Conference
 Be prepared to…
 Ask questions
 Answer questions
 Use specific comments, evidence, and everyday
language
 Adhere to allotted time
 Take notes
 Finally, remember you are the same
team.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
During the Conference
Relay positive comments
Encourage the parent
Share, information
Put a plan together
Express areas the student needs to work on
Close the conference with a review
Thank the parent
Better Schools. Better Futures.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
After the Conference
Follow through on…
the agreed upon plan
explaining the plan, using “everyday language”
continued communications
modifying the plan if needed
expressing thanks
The ABC’s of
Communicating with
Parents
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Allow Enough Time
 Schedule plenty of time for the meeting.
 Twenty to thirty minutes is usually adequate.
 If you are scheduling back-to-back conferences, be sure
to allow enough time between them (10 minutes or so)
so you can make necessary notes on the just-concluded
conference and prepare for the upcoming one.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Be Ready for Questions
Be prepared to answer specific questions parents may have.
They are likely to be questions such as:




Is my child working up to his/her ability level?
How is my child doing in specific subjects?
Does my child cause any trouble?
Does my child have any specific skills or abilities in
schoolwork?
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Contact Parents Early
 You will get your relationship with parents off to a good start if
you contact them before the school year begins or very early
into the year, perhaps with an introductory phone call.
 Give parents an outline/syllabus of what their children will be
studying, and let them know you will be happy to meet with
them throughout the course of the school year.
 The relationship that you establish with the parents/caregivers
of the students you serve should be viewed as a
PARTNERSHIP.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Phone Call to Parents
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Phone Call to Parent
continued…
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Partnership Visit
Appointment Schedule
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East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Parent Teacher Interview
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East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Partnership Visit
Documentation Form
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Do Not Judge
It may not always be possible to react neutrally to what
parents say, but communicating your judgments of
parents’ behaviors can be a roadblock to a productive
relationship with them.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Encourage Both Parents
to Attend Conferences
 Misunderstandings are less common if both
parents hear what you have to say, and you will
be able to gauge the kind of support both
parents give the child.
 In addition, many children come from singleparent homes; you could unwittingly hurt a
child’s feelings by always asking to meet the
“mother.”
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Forget the Education Jargon
Educational phrases like “criterion-referenced testing,”
“perceptual skills” and “least restrictive environment”
may be too much for parents to understand.
Keep the conversation simple and focused on the child.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Get your papers
organized in advance
 Assemble your grade
book, test papers,
samples of student’s
work, attendance
records, and other
pertinent data together
ahead of time.
 That way you won’t be
fumbling through stacks
on your desk during the
meeting.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Have a Plan
Have in mind a general but flexible outline
of what you’re going to say, including a
survey of student progress, a review of his
or her strengths and needs, and a
proposed plan of action.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Insist on a
Family-Friendly Environment
 Greet parents near the entrance they
will use.
 If you are unable to meet them at the
door, inform the secretary or receptionist
of the scheduled conference, so they will
know the whereabouts and be better
prepared to assist the parents.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Just Listen to What
Parents Have to Say…
 Most adults are poor listeners
 We concentrate on what we’re going to say next,
or we let our minds drift off to other concerns, or
we hear only part of what a speaker is saying.
 You will get more out of a conference if you really
listen to what parents are saying to you.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Keep a Record of the
Conference
 You may find it helpful later to have a brief record of
what was said at the conference, what suggestions for
improvement were made and so forth.
 Make notes as soon as possible after the conference
while details are still fresh.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Learn the Names
 Don’t assume that Jennifer Peabody’s mother is Mrs.
Peabody. Check your record’s ahead of time to make
sure you’ve got the parent’s name right.
 Don’t assume that the wrinkled gray-haired gentleman
coming in with Johnny is his grandfather. It could be his
father, or an uncle. Politely ask.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Meet again if you need to…
If you feel you need more time,
arrange another meeting later rather
than trying to rush everything.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
No Physical Barriers
 Do not sit behind your desk, while forcing the
parents to squeeze into the children’s desks on
the front row.
 Arrange conference-style seating if possible so
you’ll all be equals.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Prepare to offer a suggested
course of action…
 Parents appreciate being given some specific direction.
 If Jane is immature, it might be helpful to suggest that
the parents give her a list of weekly chores, allow her to
take care of a pet, or give her a notebook to write down
assignments.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Question the Parents
Ask for their opinions. Let parents know you’re
interested in their opinions, are eager to answer
their questions and want to work with them
throughout the year to help make their child’s
education the best.
?
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Review the student’s
strengths
 It is easy for parents to feel defensive since many of them see
themselves in their children.
 You will help if you review the child’s strengths and areas of
need rather than dwelling on criticism or stressing weakness.
 Try to balance every weakness of a child discussed with one
of the child’s strengths.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Stress Collaboration
 Let the parent know you want to work together in the
best interests of the child.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Turn the other cheek…
In routine parent conferences, it’s unusual to run into
parents who are abusive and hostile.
But it can happen!
Try not to be rude, whatever the provocation.
Listen to parents in as pleasant a manner as possible,
without getting defensive.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Use Body Language
 Non-verbal cues set the mood of the conference.
 Smile, nod, make eye contact and lean forward
slightly.
 Use body language to let parents know you’re
interested.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Verify Information
Before the conference ends, summarize the
discussion and what actions you and the
parents have decided to take.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Wind up on a positive note..
End with an encouraging comment about
the future expectations for the student.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
eXplore Solutions Together
 Things will go smoother if you focus on solutions rather
than on the child’s problem.
 Discuss what and the parents can do to improve the
situation.
 Plan a course of action together.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Your Comments
Must be Specific
 Parents may flounder if you deal only in generalities.
 Instead of saying “She doesn’t accept responsibility,” be
specific by pointing out” Amanda had a whole week to
finish her report but she only wrote two paragraphs.”
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Zoom in on the child…
• You don’t want to pry, of
course, but remember to
ask the parents if there’s
anything they you should
know about the child
(such as study habits,
relationship with siblings,
any important events in
his or her life) which may
affect his or her school
work.
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Plan for Parent Participation
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Questions/Comments…
Marlon K. Cousin, Title I Coordinator
for Family Involvement & Community Engagement
(225)922.5593
mcousin@ebrschools.org
Better Schools. Better Futures.
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Plan for Parent Participation
Better Schools. Better Futures.