While most people nod their heads in agreement, few have done anything significant to enhance teacher-parent communication. But now you can … for less than $100!

          The ABCs of Teacher-Parent Communication is a two-part package. It is a 25-page workbook – a primer in communication for teachers – that principals can reproduce in quantity (or e-mail to the teachers on their staff).

          It is also a PowerPoint presentation principals can use to provide in-service training to their staff on the subject of teacher-parent communication.

          We designed this two-part package for principals. Their purchase grants them license to print (or e-mail) enough copies of the workbook for every teacher on the staff of their school. The two-part package also includes a PowerPoint training presentation principals can use to enhance teacher-parent communication in their school.

          If you are working to make your school a learning community, there is no better way to begin! For principals who are looking for a meaningful in-service for their staff, this is the solution!

          The price is $95.

          Do the math: If there are ten teachers on a school staff, you can help them all improve their communication effectiveness for $9.50 each. If there are 20 teachers on the staff, the cost drops to $4.75 per teacher. If there are 50 teachers on the staff, the cost is only $1.90 per teacher.

          Regardless of the number of teachers on your staff, the effect on parent-teacher communication will be … priceless.

While the price is good, the content is even better!

          The ABCs of Teacher-Parent Communication is a 25-page workbook and a matching PowerPoint presentation. Here is a summary of the content:

• Information about perceptions and how parents use them to describe teachers and define your school.

• What teachers are saying about communication (More than one-third of teachers say that they don’t do a good job of communicating with parents. That’s a real problem in an environment characterized by school choice!)

• What parents are saying about schools (Parents are telling principals and teachers how to be winners. We’ll tell you what parents are saying.)

• Different communication methods and when to use them (There are times when you have to sacrifice effectiveness for efficiency. We’ll tell you when.)

• Making sure the content of your communications is interesting (If your communications aren’t interesting to parents, they won’t read them. We’re betting that you want to know what is interesting to parents.)

• A research-based, two part self-assessment (We borrowed from the life sciences to create a 20-question self-assessment that will help assure that your teachers are thinking before they communicate. Part Two of the assessment lists communication techniques that successful teachers use.)

• Using the self-assessment to make sure your communications are on-target and effective (Here’s how to apply what you have learned.)

• Dealing with the political realities of being a teacher … and communication (School people work in a demanding environment, but there are a lot of things teachers can control.)

• A template to help teachers plan effective communication (Copy the template. Fill it in. Done. Teachers have a communication plan for their classroom. Staple all the templates together and you have a communication plan for your school!)

• Why teachers need to communicate more effectively (The answer is as basic as the ABCs!)

          The ABCs of Teacher-Parent Communication was designed for (and is sold for) use at the school level. Principals can order a single master copy to use in their school. School districts and regional education agencies can order multiple master copies to use in schools in their district or service area. School districts and regional education agencies cannot purchase a single master copy for use in all schools in a district or service area. They must order one master copy for each school.

          To order for a single school : Use the School Order Form below.

          To order for more than one school in a school district or regional education service agency: Scroll down to the District Order Form below.