PRESENTED BY TRACY LEWIS -LEE

FAMILY RESOURCE COORDINATOR COLONIAL HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

JUNE 19 , 2014

Collaboration and Communication Strategies

for Parents and Schools

What’s the difference between Communication and

Collaboration?

What is communication?

Merriam-Webster.com defines communication as: the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc. to someone else.

What is collaboration?

Region One PRC’s DVD, “Recipe for Student Success” defines collaboration as: a partnership with the purpose of working together for a common goal. Collaboration is not an “activity”; it’s an ongoing process. One of the best ways to foster collaboration is to learn how to communicate effectively with one another in order to build trust.

Facts about Communication

The Laws of Forgetting

We forget 50% of what we hear immediately.

We forget 75% of what we hear within two months.

Of the 25% that we do remember, only 60% is correct. The other 40% is made up of things that we “remember”…that were never said in the first place!

How We Really Communicate

Vocabulary (7%)

Vocal Inflections (38%)

Nonverbal Behavior (55%)

Tips for Good Communication

Do: Don’t:

Make good eye contact

SmileLean forwardNod to show that

you’re paying attention

Cross your armsRoll your eyesCompulsively check

your phone and/or clock

Sigh heavily

Body Language

Be Self Aware

Do you have preconceived notions about how this communication is going to go (in other words, are you remembering the adage, “There are two sides to every story.”)?

Are you judging the teacher or other school personnel?

What kind of tone is your “default” tone?Do you understand that the teacher has (and is

supposed to have!) a different perspective from your own?

Are you an active listener and do you have any “listening bad habits”?

Help the School Understand Your Perspective

Say things like:I’m not an educator. Please explain this to me in a way

that I can understand.I’m not questioning you because I disagree; I’m only

trying to understand.Let me explain to you what a typical evening in my home

looks like.I have other children who also need my attention.Please clarify for me exactly what it is that you’d like me

to do.I have hopes and dreams for my child that may seem

unreasonable to you, but let’s try to aim for them anyway.

The Power of “Reframing”

What is reframing?

Reframing is the act of changing a question or a statement so that the perspective shifts—sometimes from a “negative” into a “positive”. Reframing can also provide for an entirely different set of solutions to a question or problem.

Change this: To this:

My mother is always interfering.

Why did you set up your classroom this way?

What is the sum of 5 + 5?

My mother has a strong need to protect me.

This classroom set-up is interesting! Can you tell me why this works well for you?

What two numbers add up to 10?

Examples of Reframing

Reframing

If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first fifty-five minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem

in less than five minutes.”-Albert Einstein

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwjAAgGi-90

What You Can Do to Make Meetings Run

More Smoothly

Prior to the meeting

Keep all of your child’s records in one place.

Read through all information that the school sends home prior to the meeting.

Give thought to what you believe your child’s specific problems, issues, strengths, and talents are.

Make a written list of questions and items to cover.

Determine whether you will bring your child to the meeting.

Right before the meeting

Arrive a few minutes early.Shake the hands of those

present and/or offer a smile.Find out how much time is

scheduled for the meeting.

During the meeting

Show respect and expect if from others.

Manage your emotions.Be specific and clear.Ask questions if you’re

unfamiliar with terms that are used.

Use praise and thank the staff for their hard work.

End by summarizing what you believe that you heard.

End the meeting on a positive note, if possible.

Sources

Communication. (n.d.). In Merriam Webster Online. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication.

Garber, Peter R. (2008). 50 Communications Activities, Icebreakers, and Exercises. Amherst, Massachusetts: HRD Press.

Goldberg, Marsha. (2005, November). Communication Skills. Conducted at the 2005 State PRC Meeting, Stafford, Virginia.

A Guide to Effective Communication [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwjAAgGi-90.

Lee, Charlene. Special Education: A Parent’s Perspective. Conducted for Chesterfield County Public Schools, Richmond, Virginia.

Seelig, Tina. (2013, January 14). Shift Your Lens: The Power of Re-Framing Problems. Retrieved from http://stvp.stanford.edu/blog/?p=6435.