Description
Today’s educators face a complex web of challenges when it comes to working with parents. From diverse communication styles to ever-increasing expectations, fostering strong, collaborative partnerships can feel overwhelming.
This course equips participants with the skills and strategies to bridge the gap, empowering student success.
Rooted in positive psychology and best practices, the program leverages the ABCD Trust Model to foster open communication, mutual respect, and shared goals.
Whether a new teacher navigating unfamiliar territory or an experienced educator seeking to refine their approach, this course provides practical tools and strategies.
Participants will learn how to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of parent expectations, communicate effectively with parents from diverse backgrounds, build trust and rapport using the ABCD Trust Model, and handle challenging conversations with professionalism and empathy.
Participants will engage in various activities which will include interactive workshops on communication techniques tailored to diverse backgrounds, role-playing scenarios to practice handling challenging conversations, and collaborative projects to apply the ABCD Trust Model in real-life settings.
Additionally, participants will analyze case studies to identify best practices and common pitfalls in parent-educator interactions and develop personalized action plans to implement these strategies in their own educational environments.
By the end of this course, participants will have developed stronger working relationships with parents and enhanced their communication skills for effective collaboration. They will be equipped to navigate challenging conversations with parents positively and productively and establish a foundation for shared decision-making and goal-setting.
Furthermore, they will have gained practical experience in utilizing the ABCD Trust Model to build trust and rapport, fostering an environment of mutual respect and shared goals that empower student success.
What is included
Learning outcomes
This course will help participants to:
- Articulate the benefits of strong parent-teacher partnerships for student achievement, well-being, and behavior;
- Employ effective communication strategies for building rapport and trust with parents from diverse backgrounds;
- Develop and implement a personalized communication plan to foster ongoing collaboration with parents;
- Utilize the ABCD Trust Model to build trust and positive interactions;
- Navigate challenging conversations with parents while maintaining professionalism and de-escalating tension;
- Collaboratively set goals and develop strategies to support student success, involving parents in the process;
- Identify and utilize school and community resources to support both students and families;
- Create a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment that encourages parent participation.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Introduction to the course
- Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities.
- Icebreaker Activity: Establishing a growth mindset around working with parents.
- Presentation of you, your school, and your expectations for the course.
- The Benefits of Collaboration: Interactive workshop on the positive impact of parent-teacher partnerships on student achievement, well-being, and behavior.
- Building Rapport and Communication Skills: Strategies for effective communication and importance of cultural sensitivity and respecting diverse communication styles;
- Introduction to ABCD Trust Model: Role-playing scenarios.
Day 2 – Empowering communication and support
Establishing Strong Foundations
- Planning effective communication strategies: newsletters, email templates, conferences, and open houses;
- Collaborative goal setting for individual students and the whole class, incorporating ABCD principles;
- Utilizing technology to enhance communication (considerations for privacy and accessibility).
Navigating Difficult Conversations
- Strategies for de-escalating tense situations with parents.
- Maintaining professionalism while acknowledging parental concerns.
- Role-playing scenarios for dealing with difficult topics (e.g., academic concerns, behavior issues), focusing on solutions, and collaboration.
Building a Support Network
- Identifying resources within the school and community;
- Strategies for connecting parents, fostering a sense of community.
Day 3 – Effective parent communication and collaboration
Practical workshop
- Presenting a brief overview of their school’s demographics, parent communication strategies, and any unique challenges or opportunities related to parent-teacher collaboration.
- Group discussions to explore best practices and brainstorm solutions based on each other’s contexts.
Communication Strategies Across Diverse Contexts
- Participants explore various communication strategies tailored to diverse family backgrounds and needs, applying the ABCD Trust Model;
- Case studies focusing on navigating communication challenges in different contexts.
Day 4 – Crafting communication plans and collaborative partnerships
Developing a Positive Communication Plan
- Participants create personalized communication plans for their classrooms, considering student needs, family preferences, the ABCD model, and their school context as presented earlier;
- Identifying strategies for overcoming personal communication challenges, focusing on building strengths (positive psychology).
Building Collaborative Relationships with Parents
- Strategies for fostering parent engagement beyond traditional methods (e.g., leveraging technology, involving parents in classroom activities);
- Exploring co-creation of learning goals and strategies with parents, applying the ABCD Trust Model;
- Group discussions and brainstorming to foster a collaborative classroom environment.
Day 5 – Effective practices for handling difficult parents
- Techniques for de-escalating conflict, setting boundaries, and maintaining professionalism in challenging situations;
- Role-playing scenarios focused on complex parent interactions;
- Strategies for self-care and emotional resilience as an educator.
Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities
- Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
- Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
- Excursion and other external cultural activities.
