Communication for Successful Schools

Viris V. Clarke-Ellis JTA Education Conference 2010

General Objective of the Presentation At the end of the session:

Participants will have an heightened awareness of the important role effective communication plays in the success of a school

Specific Objectives

By the end of the presentation, participants should be able to: 1. Utilize at least three strategies to improve the communication at their school 2. Develop a communication matrix 3. Display greater tolerance and patience when communicating

Communication

   The process of successfully transferring information from one entity to another Exchange of thoughts, messages or information by speech, signals, writing or behaviour The art and technique of using verbal or non verbal strategies effectively to impart information or ideas.

Communication in schools

Schools should:  never leave the communication to chance.

business   of Constantly seek new ways to raise their communication awareness develop their skills to become models for effective communication.



Learn Effective Responding techniques Listening and

Elements of The Communication Process       SENDER / MESSENGER / SPEAKER MESSAGE / IDEA / SPEECH CHANNEL / MEDIUM RECEIVER / AUDIENCE SITUATION FEEDBACK

THE ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION

MESSENGER SITUATION MESSAGE FEEDBACK LISTENER CHANNEL

PROFILE OF THE EFFECTIVE MESSENGER        ARTICULATE KNOWLEDGEABLE CONFIDENT FLEXIBLE CREATIVE AWARE/ADAPTABLE

PROTOCOL-SENSITIVE

PROFILE OF THE MESSAGE     APPROPRIATELY TITLED OR INTRODUCED BETTER IF CONCISE AND PRECISE MUST BE APPROPRIATE FOR TARGET

(Register and Tone)

MUST START AND END ON A POSITIVE NOTE (Sandwich Technique)

PROFILE OF THE CHANNEL  MUST BE APPROPRIATE ◦ Technology – One to one? Broadcast? Electronic? Non-

electronic?

◦ Discretion – Sensitive? Personal? Public? Generic? ◦ Timeliness – Urgent? Important?  MUST TAKE DEGREE OF CONFIDENTIALITY INTO ACCOUNT

PROFILE OF THE LISTENER/RECEIVER      LISTENING ≠ HEARING; READING ≠ UNDERSTANDING SENDER MUST SOMETIMES BECOME LISTENER / RECEIVER LISTEN / READ WITH AN OPEN MIND:

Forget Preconceptions

CHECK THE BAGGAGE AT THE DOOR!

LISTENING CAREFULLY / READING OBJECTIVELY IS A SIGN OF RESPECT

COMMUNICATION PROCESS

TRANSMITTED RECEIVED IMPLEMENTED UNDERSTOOD REVIEWED AGREED TO

Communication and attitude

One can change the direction of communication if one changes one’s attitude.

There is no one attitude that is the 'right' one to have, though being direct and clear certainly helps.

Rights come with responsibility.

Hierarchy of effective communication

One-to-one/face-to-face Small group meetings Speaking before a large group Phone conversations Handwritten personal notes Typewritten personal notes Computer-generated personal letters Mass-produced non-personal letters Brochures Articles in newsletters News in press

Communication in schools is important to prevent Teacher standing miss Teacher

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION WEB

MOE SCHOOL BOARD PRINCIPAL TEACHER STUDENT COMMUNITY

Non-Verbal Communication

Professional learning communities • • • • • • A climate of support and respect A cycle of feedback Identification & commitment to common learning standards Common lessons and assessments Capacity of staff & increased teacher efficacy Caring and positive relationships among staff and students

Effective Communication with Children   LISTEN actively (the most basic of all the skills) Use Constructive criticism 

“Criticism kills enthusiasm

” Do not Argue “

If you win an argument you lose a friend”

Teacher Student

      Vertical communication (subordinates and superiors) Boundaries must be CLEARLY defined Chain of command must be respected Must leave room for dialogue and/or negotiation if necessary Teachers do not have to use “big sticks” Use rewards AND sanctions

Teacher Teacher

     Horizontal communication (peer to peer) Rules of protocol may be relaxed Respect for the individual must always be displayed Understand that roles are intertwined

(others depend on you for their work to be done effectively)

Make sure that message is clearly articulated

Staff Administration

      Vertical communication (subordinates and superiors) Requires rules of protocol to be observed Chain of command must be respected Delegation, duty and execution are critical Must leave room for dialogue and/or negotiation if necessary Difference between leaders and dictators

Board Staff

   Vertical communication (subordinates and superiors) Requires rules of protocol to be observed Less effective if entirely “top-down”

Parent School

      Send for parents when students do well Call class PTA meeting Hold Parent recognition functions Arrange for media coverage Write press release Sell success stories

Change one letter in each word to make a statement about the presentation.



To fat no goad

Home School

 Effective family, community, and school collaboration and communication requires schools to take responsibility for communication.

 This must include: 

Listening to the public & creating dialogue



Ensuring two-way regular, clear communication

Home School

 Building partnerships to promote the well being of students  Providing multiple means for communicating with stakeholders, e.g., newsletters, home visits, electronic communication

Buy-in from

       Students Teachers Parents Private sector partners Board All staff All stake holders

ETHOS of school communicates:       Friendliness or hostility Business attitude or unprofessionalism Excellence or mediocrity Order or disorder Caring or dispassionate attitude Healthy or unhealthy environment

10 Commandments of Communication

1. “Speak” to people

.

There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.

2. Smile at people.

It takes 72 muscles to frown; 14 to smile .

3. Call people by name.

The sweetest music is the sound of one’s own name.

4. Be friendly and helpful.

5. Be cordial.

10 Commandments of Communication

6. Be genuinely interested in people.

You can like everybody if you try .

7. Be generous with praise and cautious with criticism.

8. Be considerate of the feelings of others.

It will be appreciated.

9. Be thoughtful of the opinion of others.

10. Be alert to give service.

What counts most in life is what we do for others.

1.

Strategy for Improved Communication Plan for improved communication 2.

Set goals based on strengths and limitations 3.

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6.

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9.

Establish priorities Target your audience and message Reach out to diverse community groups Find information sources Find community leaders Network Evaluate the effectiveness of your communication

Barriers to Communication

        Making Assumptions Patterns/Reverting to Type Needing to Be Right Mental/Physical attitude Health and physical factors Technical interruptions Environmental factors Human error

COMMUNICATION IS NATURAL!

“If God did not intend for us to communicate with others, we would have been made without ears, eyes or tongues.

Our fingers would be unable to feel anything.”