A sharing relationship with parents as partners is a major goal of our Montessori program.Ways of Communicating
When parents bring children to the school, we believe staff has the opportunity to exchange a few sentences twice a day. These sentences can add up to an important relationship over time if they are seen as central to the program rather than casual extras.
We will make a comment each day to every parent about the child: an enjoyed activity or an appreciated personality trait.
We will use this as a time to solicit comments on our classroom and how parents feel their children are doing.
When there is not an opportunity to see a parent, we will use the telephone to get information and give information.
Bulletin boards- Post weekly menus, announcements, community events, articles about important topics, weekly lessons and schedule.
The Message book is another device where staff regularly leaves information for parents and parents leave information for staff. With very young children it is important to have a record of what they ate and bowel movements or any other important happening of the day.
Have parents jot down special instructions for the day: early leaving time, when children should not go outside, a change in pick up person.
Avoid misunderstandings by not depending on memories.
Monthly class news, let parents know what our learning projects are, new songs, finger plays and craft projects, composer of the month, artist of the month, holiday celebrations and birthdays.
We will have a family of the month throughout the year. During your chosen month we will invite parents to arrange their lunch hour so they can join the children for lunch as a special guest. We will collect favorite family photos from parents and display them in the monthly photo album. It will make parents and the child feel special.We will always respond to parent suggestions or criticism. You may want to discuss your concerns with the director. Parents appreciate an honest disagreement more than being ignored.Parent meetings- for working parents this must be carefully planned and worth their effort. Must be a convenient time for working parents.Parent conference- with young children this should not be the most important way of communicating. Conferences should be a time to discuss to a fuller extent what the child is doing at The Nurtury and at home. We will be sure to plan ahead and have a written pre-conference report. We want to know as much as we can about your child. We will give you the facts, not our interpretation.
Together we can try to make sense of the facts. You might have some questions to pose to us also and we will have questions for you such as:
What are you hoping your child will get out of this year?
What have you liked best so far about the Nurtury?
What would you like to see happen in the future?
Real communication takes place when each person recognizes the other's power, and each person is able to reveal his or her own vulnerability. This is where positive friendly encounters each day will really pay off. Try not to go down the path of one-way communication.
Make sure when you speak you always have:
Eye contact
Active listener: repeat back what you think the person said before you answer
Say how you feel
Teachers will try to avoid educational jargon; it sets up barriers
