6--Communicate+Well

Teachers Communicate Well

Communication is the key to success! As an educator, I must communicate lessons to students, plans and strategies to my principal and colleagues, and evaluations to parents. Today's technology provides many different channels of communication. I believe by using the medium that best suits each message, I can be informative, collaborative, and cooperative in my communication. Whatever method is chosen, the audience must always be considered.

Email
Email is effective for quick spurts of information and sharing electronic documents. Idea sharing can be very productive through email. This tool is also effective for communicating with parents and other members within and beyond the community.

Face to Face
Face to face communication is best when a discussion is required. Each party is able to use nonverbal cues along with the spoken word to most effectively communicate the message. Taking the time to meet with individuals in person also shows respect for the subject at hand. Daily greetings between teachers and students often occur face to face to build a positive environment in the school. Naturally, most communication with students during the day is done face to face. I am also always willing to set up an appointment to meet with a parent at any time.

Website/Wiki I am in the practice of maintaining a website for my classroom. This site reminds students what we are learning about and serves as a reference point for resources such as class notes, outlines, videos and the class schedule. Parents also utilize my website to learn what the students are studying. I also use the website to post class projects to be shared with family and friends. Maintaining privacy is critical. Families must sign a release for any personal information to be shared online.

Other Mediums
Many other forms of communication are common at schools. I always arrangements to use written notes and the telephone if appropriate. New technologies such as twitter and web 2.0 tools offer alternatives for communication. In evaluating my audience, I am able to determine the best method to use.