When little things make a big

difference

Gladwell asserts that finding

connectors individuals who are
respected, networked and have the
power to influence within specific
groups is a key to spreading idea
viruses

Who are the connectors that

you may need to enlist to
assist connecting to your
stakeholder(s)? 1
Methods & Means of Communication
Face Paper Audio Technology
To Based Video Based
Face

Meetings Student Handbook Cable School Website

Superintendent School Newsletter TV News Town Website
Neighborhood Newspapers Radio Chamber Website
School Contact Reports Cell Phones NJSBA Website
PTA Mtgs Calendars Voice Mail CD-ROM
Superintendents E-mail Conference Calls
Sounding Boards
Phones Videoconferencing
Principals Coffees
DVD/ VCR/ CD
 Various Means of Communication

With people on campus

With all groups
With prospective students
With current students
With parents
With faculty
With staff
With faculty and staff
 Best means for communicating with faculty

VPAA meetings; Deans meetings; Presidents

semi-annual address
Advising Handbook/sessions
Center for Teaching Excellence
Faculty Evaluation Instrument
Faculty List serve
Faculty Award
Signs in Deans Offices
Faculty Senate
Best means for communicating with prospective
students

Brochures; mail-outs

WebpagesOrientation page; Admissions page;

Student Affairs page; home page

Orientation sessions; banners at sessions

Facebook
 Current Students

Syllabi of first-year faculty

Myggc Student Page
SGA Office/Student Involvement Office
Student newspaper/newsletter
Signs in Deans offices
First-year student list servenewly-created
Student list serve
 Best means of communicating with parents

Parents Orientation
Parent webpage
Parent organization
Family Festival Weekend
Banners in sporting arenas and on lampposts on
campus
Parent Communication

Building a Teacher
Communication Plan
 Parent Communication

Why is Parent Communication important?

Student achievement increases

as parents become more involved
in their childrens education.

Effective two-way communication

between the teacher and parents leads
to greater involvement.
 Parent Communication

Research shows that when parents

are involved, students have:
Higher grades
Better attendance
Lower rates of suspension
Increased motivation
Higher graduation rates
 Parent Communication

Hierarchy of Effective Communication

One-on-one
Small group
Speaking before a large group
Phone call
Hand-written personal note
Typed personal note (not a form letter)
Personal form letter
 Parent Communication

General Communication Tools/Tactics

Classroom newsletter (electronic or print)
E-mails
Teacher Web Page
Phone Calls/Brag Calls/Touching Base Calls
Good News Notes/Post Cards
Surveys
Letters/invitations/thank yous (student-written?)
Friday Folders
Backpack flyers
Voice Mail
 Parent Communication

Other Tools/Tactics
Monthly parent visit days
Additional P-T conferences (Spring)
E-mail Blog
Homework/class assignments requiring parent
involvement
Parent speakers find out parents hobbies, interests
with survey use their talents in your classroom
Student-created newsletter
Refrigerator Notes
 Parent Communication

Other Tools/Tactics
Daily what I learned review with students
Attend outside activities
Promote a story weekly/monthly to PR
Home visits
Parent recognition
Parent volunteer program
Congratulatory letters mailed to students
End-of-the-Year Class Celebration
 Parent Communication

Special Events
Back-to-School/Meet the Teacher Night
Parent Information Night
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Other?
Communicate expectations
to students and parents.
 Communicating Expectations of
Quality Work

Communicate that students and parents are

active partners in the responsibility for
producing quality work.
Focus on how to communicate exactly what
students are doing and what they need to do
to produce higher quality work.
 Communicating Expectations of
Quality Work

Communicate progress with students

and parents at least weekly.
Stop the cycle of surprise reports.
Best means of communicating with all people on
campus

Signs/banners in hallways, classrooms, Res Life, the

gym, sporting arenas, cafeteria and eating areas,
Admissions Office
Signs on lampposts
Plasmas
Home web page
 Best means of communicating with staff

Staff regular meetings

Staff evaluation instrument
Presidents semi-annual addresses
Employees list serves
Best means of communicating with prospective
faculty and staff

In job descriptions

In job interviews
HIT241 - COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT
Running effective meetings

A well-run meeting is an important means for

encouraging team building and reinforcing
expectations, roles, relationships, and
commitment to the project.
However, a poorly run meeting can have a
detrimental effect on a project. In particular, many
people complain about the time they waste in
unnecessary, or poorly planned and poorly
executed meetings.
HIT241 - COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT
Guidelines for effective meetings
Determine if a meeting can be avoided.
Define the purpose and intended outcome of the
meeting.
Determine who should attend the meeting.
Provide an agenda to participants before the
meeting.
Prepare handouts, visual aids, and make
logistical arrangements ahead of time.
Run the meeting professionally.
Build relationships.