Chapter 10: Teacher as Family Communication Facilitator

What is the definition of reciprocal communication?

• Having the student communicate information to their parents and expecting the child to come back with their response.

• Sending students home with information for their parents once a week explaining what their child did this past week.

• Teacher and families equally share information, ask questions, and express opinions through forms of communication.

• Communicating with extended family of students more than the students' immediate family.

Which is NOT an example of reciprocal communication?

• Friday Folder system

• Emails and Texts

• Sending home samples of students work at the end of the week.

• Classroom or school websites with comment sections.

Select all special considerations when using social media as a tool for communication.

• Be aware of district policies while posting regularly and staying current.

• Post on multiple platforms for each parent to access.

• Only update once in a while so the parents and you do not get overwhelmed.

• Use photos/videos as much as possible.

Some non-verbal strategies for conference communication are....

Active Listening Behaviors include

• Closed and open questions, encouragers, paraphrasing

• One-sided conversations, teacher-centered conversation

• Constructive criticism towards parents, open to minimal ideas from parents since curriculum needs to be followed.

What are some alternatives to formal, face-to-face conferencing? Select all that apply.

• Telephone conferences

• Home visits

• Texting conferences

• Student-led conferences

• Email conferences

What are things to keep in mind when planning conferences with non-english speaking families?

• Translator is most likely needed.

• The teacher needs to learn key phrases.

• The teacher should give the translator their conference plan and have her say it all while the teacher observes.

• Often two-way communication.

Essential parts to documenting communication in conferences includes date and time, purpose of the conference, primary points of the conference, and...

A closed question is

• An answer with one right answer.

• An answer that leads into another question.

• An answer that have multiple different outcomes.

• An answer that does not need a response.