The Tactful Teacher: Effective Communication with Parents, Colleagues, and Administrators

By equipping teachers with the tools they need to communicate effectively with colleagues, parents, and administrators, this handbook prepares them to deal successfully with and understand the dynamics of a variety of work-related situations. Especially helpful for those new to the field, this guide teaches the skills to build effective communication, tailor messages to fit their recipients, and interact with difficult people and under pressure. Using specific scenarios, such as dealing with angry parents, sharing unpleasant information, or communicating in less-than-ideal school environments, different communication strategies, and why they work, are discussed in detail. Advice is also given on handling "The Social Addiction Trap" and those tricky "what's your opinion" questions with grace and aplomb.

Yvonne Bender has 30 years' experience teaching at all levels, as well as mentoring new teachers. She has served on numerous school boards including the Maryland's Citizen's Review Board for Children. She is the author of The New Teacher's Handbook, The Tactful Teacher: Effective Communication with Parents, Colleagues and Administrators, and The Power of Positive Teaching. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.