How can you resolve mixed messages from parents and students?

2 Listen actively

Another key skill to communicate effectively is to listen actively to both parents and students. This means that you pay attention to what they are saying, show empathy and respect, ask open-ended questions, and paraphrase or summarize what you heard. Listening actively can help you understand the perspectives and feelings of both parties, identify the source of the mixed messages, and avoid assumptions or judgments. For example, if a parent tells you that their child is bored or unmotivated in your class, you can ask them to elaborate on why they think so, how their child expresses their boredom or lack of motivation, and what they suggest to improve the situation. You can also listen to the student and ask them how they feel about the class, what they enjoy or dislike, and what they need to succeed.

3 Provide feedback

Another way to resolve mixed messages is to provide constructive and consistent feedback to both parents and students. Feedback is essential for learning and improvement, but it can also be a source of misunderstanding or conflict if it is not delivered or received well. Therefore, you need to be clear, specific, positive, and timely when you give feedback. You also need to balance praise and criticism, and focus on the behavior or performance, not the person. For example, instead of saying "You are a bad writer", you can say "Your writing needs more organization and coherence". You also need to encourage both parents and students to give you feedback on your teaching and communication, and be open to suggestions or complaints.

4 Collaborate and compromise

Finally, to resolve mixed messages, you need to collaborate and compromise with both parents and students. You need to recognize that you are all on the same team, and that you share the same goal of helping the student achieve their potential. You also need to respect the different roles and responsibilities that each party has, and acknowledge their strengths and challenges. You need to communicate regularly and honestly, and seek solutions that benefit everyone. For example, if a student is having difficulty with a certain assignment or project, you can work with the parent and the student to find a way to modify it, extend the deadline, or provide extra support.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?