Fostering Strong Teacher-Parent Communication Through the Science of Social-Emotional Learning

Fostering Strong Teacher-Parent Communication Through the Science of Social-Emotional Learning

Instructors: Jenny Barrett and Dr. Anne Townsend

Description: Administrators, parents, and teachers often spend a lot of time and emotional energy trying to repair misunderstandings and get “on the same page” to support a child’s growth. In this course, you'll gain the confidence and skills to tackle communication challenges with ease by mastering key strategies that reduce stress, foster mutual understanding, and promote collaboration.

Through this course, you'll discover a clear, actionable formula for crafting effective emails about challenging behaviors, along with sample emails, personalized feedback, and the language needed to lower defenses and inspire positive change. We’ll also dive into common communication barriers—especially stress—and learn how understanding and addressing these barriers can open the door to more constructive conversations.

Rooted in the science of social-emotional learning, this course will equip you with the tools to build stronger, more empathetic connections, reduce tension, and increase collaboration, ultimately improving student outcomes. You’ll leave with practical do's and don’ts for communication and a template for crafting successful parent-teacher emails backed by personalized feedback on your drafts.

Testimonials: 

What You’ll Learn:

• How to describe challenging behaviors in a way that minimizes defensiveness, opening up a more productive conversation.
• Gain the skills to empathize with parents’ concerns, reduce stress, and build a more supportive, collaborative relationship.
• Ways to communicate your thoughts and concerns in a way that ensures mutual understanding and strengthens the parent-teacher relationship.
• How to write clear, actionable emails and messages that promote understanding, reduce frustration, and encourage positive action.
• Discover methods for providing practical, actionable guidance that encourages parents to take meaningful action and follow through.

This Course Includes:

Each of the 4 modules features self-paced components to learn the skill or concept, along with 1-hour live sessions (in-person or online) to practice and receive feedback.

Self-paced components include:

• Short, digestible mini-lessons to watch at your own pace
• Interactive exercises to practice and apply new skills
• Tip sheets focused on specific communication strategies
• Teacher resources, including videos and articles
• Ready-to-use email templates for effective communication with parents
• Reflection prompts and opportunities for feedback
• Personalized feedback on your own email drafts and communication

Course Topics:

1. Understanding the Stress Barrier in Teacher-Parent Conversations
   Explore how stress—both your own and the parent’s—can create communication barriers and learn strategies to address and reduce it.

2. Framing Challenging Situations to Build Collaboration
   Learn how to present challenging behaviors and concerns in ways that promote collaboration and minimize defensiveness.

3. Empathy in Communication: How to See Things from the Parent’s Perspective
   Develop the skills to understand and empathize with parents’ feelings and concerns, helping to build rapport and trust.

4. Crafting Clear and Effective Messages for Parents
   Gain practical tools for writing clear, actionable emails and messages that promote understanding, reduce frustration, and encourage positive action.

5. Proven Do’s and Don’ts for Effective Communication
   Discover communication strategies that have been proven to reduce stress, improve relationships, and foster collaboration.

6. Creating Actionable Templates for Parent Communication
   Leave with a comprehensive template for drafting effective communications, along with sample emails and personalized feedback on your own drafts.

Recommended For:

• Teachers, educators, and caregivers of children under age 8
• Both early-career and seasoned educators

Requirements:

• *Completion of Mariposa’s 8-module course (or equivalent)
• A working computer with internet access
• An open mind and receptive mindset

Join us to learn how to communicate more effectively, feel heard, and build lasting partnerships with parents to support your students’ growth and success.