{
    "id": 10567,
    "date": "2023-10-29T21:02:25",
    "date_gmt": "2023-10-29T15:32:25",
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    "modified": "2023-11-06T22:56:30",
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    "slug": "communicating-with-students",
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        "rendered": "Communicating with Students"
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        "rendered": "<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"10567\" class=\"elementor elementor-10567\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2478dd2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2478dd2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9567dd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9567dd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is essential that Teachers learn the art of interacting and communicating with the student effectively especially in this modern digital world.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building a good classroom environment and healthy student-teacher relation requires continuous and effective communication. It has been seen that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">classroom management has the maximum impact on student achievement. students cannot learn in a chaotic, poorly managed classroom.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For effective communication that might impact\u00a0 student learning, teachers need to keep in mind :<\/span><\/p><h4><b>\u2756<\/b> <b>Clarity in Communication<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication is both expressive and receptive. Educators should be skilled in listening and understanding the thoughts and ideas of their students and elaborating things clearly. Educators need clarity in communication while talking to their students. They should be able to break down complex things into simple steps. Educators must be able to &#8220;read&#8221; their students&#8217; minds. Effective communication also includes converting a boring conversation into an interesting one using good presentation and communication skills.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>\u2756<\/b> <b>Personalizing Communication with Emotions<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good educator conveys honest affection and commitment to their students. They keep a deep concern about their students&#8217; progress.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A teacher, who is keen to know about their students, learns their name and addresses them with their name. They always try to understand their students&#8217; dream, their biggest fear, hopes and preferences; all this is possible with effective and continuous communication. Teachers must celebrate their student\u2019s success and recognize them for their work; and this is a great way to highlight student\u2019s strengths and create impact on their learning.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>\u2756<\/b> <b>Communicating With Parents<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A great educator does not only need to communicate with students, but should know the art of communicating with students\u2019 parents as well. They need to be perfect in expressing themselves to parents to collectively work on the students\u2019 progress. Teachers are required to make sure that parents understand their kids\u2019 learning strengths, patterns, problems or behaviour.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some effective tips on communicating with parents are-<\/span><\/p><ol><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build Relationship<\/span><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is important to build trust with parents .Building trust with parents is a steady process which many include having to prove to parents that they have their good interest at heart and helping students and letting parents know about it.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listen to Parents<\/span><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> There are times that parents have serious questions and concerns about their kids. In those times, try to address their concerns. , even if it\u2019s your mistake, accept it and handle things calmly. Listening to them rather than defending your point is more important here.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Document Every Communication<\/span><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is important to document any communication with parents.Documenting communication means writing down the parent\/student name, date, and a brief summary about the conversation.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk Often<\/span><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Regular and effective communication takes time but it is crucial.<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is tough for teachers who have so much to do, to manage effective communications, but with the growth of technology and available tools the task gets less hectic. Today, educators have various options to communicate with students and parents using technology to meet them where they are active, on their phones.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Use of Technology for Effective Communication between Teachers, Parents and Students<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use of technology makes communication effective and easy. Teachers who use technology have various options to reach out like phone calls, emails, newsletters, e-cards, chat applications, video conferencing as well as social media tools. But organizing all this is not easy either.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of apps and platforms that enable teacher- student &amp; parent communication.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Online Teaching and Communicating<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication is the first hurdle for those of us who have been thrust into online teaching.<\/span><\/p><p><b>How do we keep in touch with our students?<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discussion boards, live chats, emails and video calls are the new normal of classroom communication.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make online class communication effective, teachers need to mix different modes of communication which have their own strengths and weaknesses:<\/span><\/p><ol><li><b><i><\/i><\/b> <b><i>Text<\/i><\/b><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Composing messages via text is presently the most efficient way to communicate with students online. But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the best way. Without body language or tone of voice, you will need to go to extra effort to ensure your instructions and feedback do not become too impersonal.<\/span><\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><b><i><\/i><\/b> <b><i>Video<\/i><\/b><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Videos are a great way to stay connected. Students will feel much closer to you if they can see your face and hear your voice. However, they\u2019ll also need reliable technology for downloading or streaming \u2014 so you will want to assess whether this is possible for all members of your class.<\/span><\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><b><i><\/i><\/b> <b><i>Audio<\/i><\/b><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A quick voice recording is an easy way to provide personal communication to your students. Just ensure that recordings are clear and concise. If you have an important message for the whole class, text might be a more reliable option.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will have to be<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prepared for a few technical accidents. They\u2019re totally normal when you\u2019re just settling into teaching online.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Develop a communication strategy<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">develop a clear communication strategy that your students and their parents can understand. This could go out as a document which includes:<\/span><\/p><p><b><i>An overview of the channels\/methods being used<\/i><\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure you also include information on how to access these. Break it down in simple, bullet-pointed instructions. Never assume parents or students will \u2018figure it out\u2019.<\/span><\/p><p><b><i>How students and parents can contact you<\/i><\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your options include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>Email<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This is the easiest and most effective way for parents and students to get in touch, although this can translate to a permanently full inbox.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>Telecommunications apps<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Skype, Zoom, Teams): These provide all the benefits of a direct phone conversation, without you having to provide your private mobile number.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>Live chats<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Schedule regular live Q&amp;A sessions. It reduces the number of duplicate queries, saving you time. However, it is not the ideal forum for parents or students to voice more private concerns.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Remember to set \u2018working hours\u2019 in order to preserve your own time. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demand will be high given the newness of the situation.<\/span><\/p><p><b><i>A routine for communications<\/i><\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your students will feel much more comfortable with online learning if communication is predictable. Outline when during the week you will be uploading daily activities and posting feedback. You\u2019ll bring back some of the structure associated with a regular school day.<\/span><\/p><p><b><i>Directions to essential material<\/i><\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure your students and their parents know exactly where to find:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the teaching sequence or unit overview<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the syllabus (for parent reference)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">worksheets and activities for supplementary revision.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most common parent and student queries will be answered by these resources, so make sure they are accessible in a clearly designated space.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Relay clear and concise messages<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid miscommunication and having to endlessly reissue instructions by making messages tight and to the point. Here are some simple rules to abide by:<\/span><\/p><p><b><i>Less is more<\/i><\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bullet points, lists and whitespace are so much better than walls of text. \u2018Chunk\u2019 your text visually with paragraphs so it\u2019s easier for students to process \u2014 especially if you are dealing with multiple subjects in a single message.<\/span><\/p><p><b><i>Be clear<\/i><\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce the risk of confusion by cutting back on sophisticated or unnecessary language. Tailor it to your students\u2019 reading level instead.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are issuing instructions via video, use some text too. Have a summary of the instructions on a visible whiteboard or piece of paper so that students can extract the essentials.<\/span><\/p><p><b><i>Use private communication for sensitive topics<\/i><\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are delivering sensitive feedback or addressing an individual student issue, do so in a way that is not visible to the rest of the group. Use email, private messaging or schedule an online call (with older students). This builds trust and safety in the online learning space.<\/span><\/p><p><b><i>Check that students receive your messages<\/i><\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If students aren\u2019t seeing your messages, or they aren\u2019t doing what has been asked, revise your communication strategy to ensure that the message gets through. Ask your students for feedback on what works and what doesn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Convey the right tone of voice<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tone is easy to communicate with voice and video, but it is just as important to replicate in writing. Without it, students will misinterpret your messages \u2014 or simply perceive you as flat and robotic. Convey tone by using:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>Emotive language<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This prevents your messages from seeming bland and purely instructional.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>GIFs and emojis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Even a simple <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\ude00<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lightens the mood.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>Proper language and grammar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Careful writing indicates that time and thought has gone into your communication. No one wants to receive a message full of errors or aggressive all-capital letters.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Remember<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Even a two-minute greeting presented via video can set the tone for the day. If you are unsure how to communicate in the right tone, let your students see and hear the message from you directly with a video.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Make your communication personal<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personal communication makes your students feel cared for and closer to you, and it is this bond that will carry you through the challenges of such an unprecedented time.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your communication personal by:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>Using names<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This is a simple touch that indicates familiarity and connection.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>Self-disclosure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Let students know how you are finding your time away from the classroom. Introduce them to your pets and the hobbies that keep you busy at home.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <\/span><b>Off topic chat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Set aside a space for general discussion online so that everyone can touch base and feel a sense of togetherness.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most importantly, <\/span><b>be yourself<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Make jokes, get pulled onto wild tangents, laugh and do all the little things that make your teaching uniquely <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">yours<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The teaching world might be turned on its head, but the connection you have with your students remains the same. They can count on it.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Ten Tips for Communicating with the Teenagers<\/b><\/h2><h3><b>1. Give Them Opportunities<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rather than sit your teenager\u00a0 students down for a formal talk, it\u2019s better to keep communication channels open all the time.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage them to help you prepare food, and chat as you do so, or make sure that you give them a lift to an activity once a week, to give you a bit of time to talk without pressure.<\/span><\/p><h3><b>2. Listen<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We all like to be listened to, but many of us don\u2019t take time to really listen to others.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your teen wants to talk, take time to listen to what they are saying, and look at their body language too.<\/span><\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ask why, but don\u2019t make judgements<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pointing out that a particular piece of behaviour was stupid is not the best start to a conversation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, it is best to assume that the teen had a reason for their actions, and ask them about it. It is important to keep an open mind about why they made that choice, and try to understand their thinking process.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to avoid making any judgements about them, and this will help them to avoid judging others.<\/span><\/p><h3><b>4. Don\u2019t assume or accuse<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just as with younger children, it is important not to assume that you know what is going on, or what has happened.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In particular, don\u2019t ask leading questions. Instead, ask general questions such as \u201cWill you tell me what\u2019s been happening?\u201d, or \u201cI\u2019m worried that you haven\u2019t been quite your usual self. Is everything OK?\u201d<\/span><\/p><h3><b>5. Be there to help<\/b><\/h3><p>Even though they are trying to establish their own identity, teenagers need to know that you are still there. Use questions such as:<\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><b>\u201c<\/b><b><i>Can I do anything to help?<\/i><\/b><b>\u201d or<\/b><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><b>\u201c<\/b><b><i>Is there anything that you would like me to do?<\/i><\/b><b>\u201d<\/b><\/li><\/ul><p>These types of questions make it clear that you are letting them decide if they want you to be involved.<\/p><h3><b>6. Don\u2019t just tell, let them think things through<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of us will probably recognise that we learn a whole lot more by making our own mistakes, and thinking things through for ourselves, than we do from being told what to do by someone else. Teenagers are exactly the same.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important, as the teacher of a teenager, to have the confidence in them to believe that they can find their own solutions to their problems. Your role is to help them to think things through so that they can do that. This may be with you, or by themselves, but it is important that you give them the space to do so, and make clear that you are available for discussion if necessary.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A very good way to make sure that you\u2019re enabling others to think things through for themselves is to make sure that you ask open-ended questions (that is, questions that do not have a yes\/no answer). These often start with \u2018How\u2026?\u2019 , \u2018What\u2026.?\u2019 or \u2018Why\u2026?\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3><b>7. \u201c<\/b><b><i>Do as I do, not just as I say<\/i><\/b><\/h3><p>You are still a role model for your students. If you want them to behave well,, you need to make sure that your behaviour is appropriate too.If you want them to respect you, they need to also be respected.<\/p><h3><strong>8. Pick your battles<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some things are more important than others. Pick your battles so that you win the ones that really matter, and let the others go.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If all you do is criticise, a teen is less likely to be able to distinguish when you are seriously critical, as opposed to just a bit unenthusiastic. Instead, try to be positive about something and find strengths in your students<\/span><\/p><h3><b>9. Don\u2019t react to anger with anger or hurt<\/b><\/h3><p>Remember, you are the adult. It is important and to model the behaviour that you want to see. It is hard to stay calm, but it is vital to do so.<\/p><p>If necessary, take yourself away, explaining why you are doing so. Return to the discussion later, when you are calm.<\/p><h3><b>10. Avoid asking too many difficult questions<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t want a teenager\u00a0 to lie to you.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ideally, you would like them to feel able to talk to you about anything. But that may not be the case, especially if they are doing something that they know you think is wrong,It is therefore better to avoid asking straight questions about difficult subjects, unless you are prepared for them to lie or avoid the question. Just keep asking open questions and keep the communication channels open. Hopefully, they will then come to you when they want to talk.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>",
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