The Tactful Teacher Effective Communication with Parents, Colleagues, and Administrators

by Bender, Yvonne

• ISBN13: 9780974934433
• ISBN10: 0974934437
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-10-01
• Publisher: Ingram Book Co

Summary

For teachers everywhere who have been faced by an angry administrator, an overly helpful parent, or a confrontational colleague, help is at hand. Yvonne Bender's newest book, The Tactful Teacher: Effective Communication with Parents, Colleagues, and Administrators takes on the pitfalls and perils of miscommunication in the teaching environment, and offers hands-on, practical solutions that work. Using real-life scenarios, The Tactful Teacher offers workable, step-by-step solutions to the most common communication challenges today's teachers face.

Author Biography

Yvonne Bender has 30 years experience teaching at all levels, as well as mentoring new teachers. She has served on numerous school boards and is currently on Maryland''s Citizen''s Review Board for Children. She is the author of The New Teacher''s Handbook and The Power of Positive Teaching. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Table of Contents

Part I: Building Effective Communication	3	(16)
Ten Strategies for Building Effective Communication
Adjust Your Communication to Fit the Situation	5	(2)
Follow Your School's Chain of Command	7	(3)
Open Lines of Communication	10	(1)
Begin Positively	10	(2)
Practice Active Listening	12	(2)
Emphasize Areas of Agreement	14	(1)
Be Willing to Compromise	15	(1)
Respect Confidentiality	15	(1)
Avoid Gossip	16	(2)
End on a Positive Note	18	(1)
Part II: Tailoring Communication for a Perfect Fit	19	(34)
Communicating With Parents	20	(13)
Communicating With Administrators	33	(8)
Communicating With Colleagues	41	(5)
Communicating With the Community	46	(7)
Part III: Communicating With Difficult People	53	(57)
Communicating Effectively With Angry People	54	(17)
Peeved Parent	59	(4)
Annoyed Administrator	63	(2)
Cranky Colleague	65	(4)
Crabby Custodian	69	(2)
Communicating With Overly Controlling People	71	(14)
Authoritarian Administrator	75	(2)
Overly Helpful Parent	77	(5)
Charmingly Assertive Colleague	82	(3)
Communicating Effectively With Apathetic People	85	(13)
Lassez-Faire Administrator	88	(4)
Uninvolved Parent	92	(4)
Indifferent Colleague	96	(2)
Communicating Effectively With Anxious People	98	(12)
Overly Protective Parent	102	(2)
Indecisive Administrator	104	(3)
Insecure Colleague	107	(3)
Part IV: Communicating Under Duress	110	(21)
Communicating Unpleasant Information	110	(15)
To Parents	113	(4)
To Administrators	117	(5)
To Colleagues	122	(3)
Communicating in Less-Than-Ideal Circumstances	125	(6)
In Impersonal Learning Environments	125	(2)
In Cynical Environments	127	(1)
In Fearful Environments	128	(3)
Appendix: Interpreting Non-Verbal Communication	131
Body Language	132	(1)
Detrimental Behavior	133	(1)
Style of Dress	134