In the routine of each school day, between ringing bells and often over children’s voices, the school staff is in endless and often complicated interaction with other adults. Agility in these communications is prominent in job descriptions, prized in educator evaluation rubrics, and always in the prescription for effective PLC’s and the many school teams. It can also be the difference between lasting productivity and spiraling conflict, and between an educator’s comfortable confidence and exhausting hesitance. Despite the centrality, complicated nature, and universally acknowledged value, these skills are not usually part of an educator’s preparation or ongoing training.

Borrowing relevant lessons from other fields and ageless commentary on the subject, this interactive professional development provides the school staff with a vocabulary and framework through which they might all better understand, navigate, and practice the communications and conversations that are so central to their work. A series of interlocking exercises moves participants through an imagined school day filled with familiar but compelling communication challenges. By the time the afternoon buses depart, they have navigated parents, principals, PLC meetings, and a missing set of pencils. They have conducted conversations in hallways, classrooms, and offices. Their communications also happen over email, text, video, and messaging apps, with FERPA and FOA realities always lurking in the near background.

By the session’s end, participants will understand the school’s wide-ranging work communications and conversations actually all unfold in a known and familiar rhythm–that of a lesson plan. They all share an objective, framing, an established tone, checks for understanding, closure, and reflection.

Learning Goals:

• Recognize the work communication responsibilities placed on the school staff.
• Understand factors that make the school a uniquely complicated place for work conversation.
• Develop a vocabulary and construct through which to understand and navigate work communication.
• Boost confidence and reduce tiring uncertainties
• Help all stakeholders avoid unnecessary conflict and spot productive paths forward.

Instructor

Marty Malague

Total Contact Hours/CEUs

3.0 / 0.3

Questions? Contact usmpdp@maine.edu  or call 207-780-5900