Communication for Communication for Successful Successful

SchoolsSchools

Viris V. Clarke-Ellis Viris V. Clarke-Ellis JTA Education Conference JTA Education Conference

20102010

General Objective of the General Objective of the PresentationPresentation

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 ObjectivesSpecific 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 matrix3. Display greater tolerance and

patience when communicating

Communication Communication

The The processprocess of successfully of successfully transferring information from one transferring information from one entity to anotherentity to another

Exchange of thoughts, messages Exchange of thoughts, messages or information by speech, signals, or information by speech, signals, writing or behaviourwriting or behaviour

The The art and techniqueart and technique of using of using verbal or non verbal strategies verbal or non verbal strategies effectivelyeffectively to impart information to impart information or ideas. or ideas.

Communication in schoolsCommunication in schoolsSchools should:never leave the business of

communication to chance. Constantly seek new ways to

raise their communication awareness

develop their skills to become models for effective communication.

Learn Effective Listening and Responding techniques

Elements of The Communication Elements of The Communication ProcessProcess

SENDER / MESSENGER / SPEAKERMESSAGE / IDEA / SPEECHCHANNEL / MEDIUMRECEIVER / AUDIENCESITUATIONFEEDBACK

THE ELEMENTS OF THE ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

PROFILE OF THE EFFECTIVE PROFILE OF THE EFFECTIVE MESSENGERMESSENGERARTICULATEKNOWLEDGEABLECONFIDENTFLEXIBLECREATIVEAWARE/ADAPTABLEPROTOCOL-SENSITIVE

PROFILE OF THE MESSAGEPROFILE OF THE MESSAGE

APPROPRIATELY TITLED OR INTRODUCED

BETTER IF CONCISE AND PRECISEMUST BE APPROPRIATE FOR TARGET

(Register and Tone) MUST START AND END ON A

POSITIVE NOTE (Sandwich Technique)

PROFILE OF THE CHANNELPROFILE 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 PROFILE OF THE LISTENER/RECEIVERLISTENER/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 PROCESSCOMMUNICATION PROCESS

Communication and Communication and attitudeattitude

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 Hierarchy of effective communicationcommunication

Communication in schools is Communication in schools is important to preventimportant to prevent

Teacher standing Teacher miss

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION WEBSCHOOL COMMUNICATION WEB

MOE

SCHOOL BOARD PRINCIPAL

STUDENTTEACHER

COMMUNITY

Non-Verbal Non-Verbal CommunicationCommunication

Professional learning Professional learning communitiescommunities

• 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 Effective Communication with ChildrenChildrenLISTEN 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 StudentTeacher StudentVertical communication

(subordinates and superiors)Boundaries must be CLEARLY definedChain of command must be

respectedMust leave room for dialogue and/or

negotiation if necessaryTeachers do not have to use “big

sticks”Use rewards AND sanctions

Teacher TeacherTeacher TeacherHorizontal communication (peer to

peer)Rules of protocol may be relaxedRespect for the individual must

always be displayedUnderstand that roles are

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

Make sure that message is clearly articulated

Staff Staff AdministrationAdministrationVertical communication (subordinates

and superiors)Requires rules of protocol to be

observedChain of command must be respectedDelegation, duty and execution are

criticalMust leave room for dialogue and/or

negotiation if necessaryDifference between leaders and

dictators

Board StaffBoard StaffVertical communication

(subordinates and superiors)Requires rules of protocol to be

observedLess effective if entirely “top-

down”

Parent SchoolParent SchoolSend for parents when students

do wellCall class PTA meetingHold Parent recognition functionsArrange for media coverage Write press releaseSell success stories

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

presentation.presentation.

To fat no goad

Home SchoolHome SchoolEffective 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 SchoolHome SchoolBuilding partnerships to promote

the well-being of students

Providing multiple means for communicating with stakeholders, e.g., newsletters, home visits, electronic communication

Buy-in fromBuy-in fromStudentsTeachersParentsPrivate sector partnersBoardAll staffAll stake holders

ETHOS of school ETHOS of school communicates:communicates:Friendliness or hostilityBusiness attitude or

unprofessionalism Excellence or mediocrityOrder or disorderCaring or dispassionate attitudeHealthy or unhealthy

environment

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of CommunicationCommunication1. “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 10 Commandments of CommunicationCommunication6. 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.

Strategy for Improved Strategy for Improved CommunicationCommunication

1. Plan for improved communication2. Set goals based on strengths and limitations3. Establish priorities4. Target your audience and message5. Reach out to diverse community groups6. Find information sources7. Find community leaders8. Network9. Evaluate the effectiveness of your

communication 

Barriers to Barriers to Communication Communication Making AssumptionsPatterns/Reverting to TypeNeeding to Be RightMental/Physical attitudeHealth and physical factorsTechnical interruptionsEnvironmental factorsHuman error

COMMUNICATION IS COMMUNICATION IS NATURAL!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.”