Avoiding the Good Day/Bad Day Trap in Parent-Teacher Communication

Instructors: Jenny Barrett and Dr. Anne Townsend

Description:

We all know the challenge: It’s the end of the day, and a parent or caregiver asks you if a child had a good day or a bad day. Or maybe you’re in the habit of saying it was a good day or a bad day. Or some version of that like, ”She had a better day,” or “Today was a hard day!” 

And chances are you struggle a little with what that means, their implications at home, or what the child might hear. But the question remains, and you feel obligated to answer, even though you don’t have the time or information to provide a more meaningful response. 

In this mini-lesson, we break down why the “good day/bad day” trap is not only unhelpful but can actually make things worse. We’ll provide you with a more effective way to communicate at the end of the day, even when time is limited. Plus, because we know the parents might still ask, we offer an email template to help you to help you explain to  the parents this new approach to communicating at the end of the day and a link to a video that they can watch for more insight! Say goodbye to the “good day/bad day” trap and feel more effective in your end-of-day parent-teacher communications.

What you will learn:

• The specific reasons why certain types of feedback can inhibit communication and social-emotional learning.

•  The types of feedback children and their parents need to foster learning and growth.

This course includes:

• 1 video lesson to watch at your convenience
• A sample email template for parents, along with a link to a video for them to watch