School and Community Winter 2023

Now that the positive has been shared and the families know their child is seen and appreciated, your next calls have a platform of previous love and care. When a negative behavior arises, your call shows you want what’s best for the child and are willing to put in the time and effort to help. In my experience, most families respond better to a negative phone call after the initial positive call (even months later). What if I see more than 40 students each day? By the end of the first week, you probably have an inkling of who may become a concern in the future. A prior teacher may be able to give you a bit of insight as well. Pinpoint those students, and make a point to find something positive about those few students to call home within the second week. Can’t I just send them an email or other message? May I be frank? Yes, you can, and it is faster at first. However, in the long run, you’re creating a problem that will take much longer to resolve. Start with a positive call and it will make your life easier. Even as I write this article, I know that anyone can: 1. Misinterpret what I’m trying to communicate because my message in text cannot convey emotion (For example: Maybe you didn’t know I told two jokes at the beginning. You can’t hear my chortling as I wrote them). 2. Copy and paste onto any social media platform – removing or adding text that will support an agenda not intended. 3. Misinterpret the tone the families use with you when they respond.

I have had all three of the above mentioned items happen to me. Families and coworkers were upset with me because of messages I had written. I remember speaking with a principal about an email in which my intention was declarative sentences in a calm tone, but it came across as aggressive. I’ve had families post a response I made in an email on Facebook to rake it over the coals. I also have been so heated about a message (or two) from a child’s family member and read it in a mocking tone, feeling so righteous in my anger. Then I called to respond and realized all too quickly that I had misread the situation. I forgot to give them the benefit of the doubt and immediately jumped to a very wrong reaction. In conclusion, phone calls home do not have to be intimidating and scary. In fact, you can start with phone calls on day one! A short, positive phone call home for every child you work with can make a big difference when concerns arise. Additionally, a quick digital message is great for whole class reminders and updates. However, if a child has an academic or behavioral issue that is big enough to send a message, schedule 15 more minutes to make the phone call instead. Do not create an opportunity to be misunderstood. Will you make the call?

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