Characteristics of Good Listeners:

Contact Information:
• Listen carefully to the other person
• Have good eye contact Email: shannon.deboer@trojans.dsu.edu
• Encourage the speaker by using body
language and verbal expressions such Phone: (605) 956 - 0782
as “yes.”
• Observe the speaker and have a facial Website: shannondeboercoe.weebly.com
expression that shows interest.
• Respond with attentive body language,
such as leaning towards or touching.
• Rephrase the substance and meaning of
the message they receive from the
speaker when appropriate.

How to reframe a concern about your child:

Questions you might be asked by your

child’s school:

• How does your child seem to feel about

school?
• Which activity does your child talk about
at home?
• Which activities seem to stimulate your
child’s intellectual growth?
•
•
How does you child spend free time?
Is there anything that your child dreads? Hillcrest
• What are your child’s interests and

•
hobbies?
What concerns do you have?
Elementary
• What kinds of support or collaboration
would you like from the school to help
Brookings School District
your family?
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Frequently asked questions by
parents:
• How well does my child get along
with other children?
• How does my child react to
discipline?
• Does my child select books at the
proper reading level from the
library?
• Does my child use study periods
effectively?
• Do you expect me to help with my
child’s homework?
• Are there any areas in which my
child needs special help?
• Does my child display any special
interests or talents at school that
could be supported at home?
Tips for Parents:
1. View the teacher as a source of support
for their child and themselves
2. Listen carefully and give total
commitment to the teacher
3. Show respect for the teacher.
4. Recognize that the teacher has a difficult
challenge to meet the needs of al students.
5. Rephrase and check teachers
understanding of messages given during
conversations or conferences.
6. Speak openly and honestly about your
child.
7. Use concerns as forums for
understanding the school and teacher.
8. Become allies with the teacher
“Education is the most
powerful weapoin
which you can use to
change the world.”
- Nelson Mandela
Parents as part of the team:
• Teacher and parents work together to
create a common goal for your student
• Share evaluation results with all
members of the team.
• Talk about modified teaching
• Evaluate child’s strengths together
• Keep an open dialogue with all
members of the team.
Different ways to facilitate
communication throughout the year:
• Approach each meeting with the
assumptions that there is a common
goal
• Facilitate the best potential for the
child
• Avoid confrontation and defensive
responses
• Assess motives before giving negative
feedback to parents
• Avoid judging
• Give careful and thoughtful responses