CPT Course Outline

I have nearly completed a course outline for my Communication Process for Teachers course, and I thought I would share it with you. I am still working on the last section about teacher communication with administrator. I want to focus on professionalism and how to approach formally asking your administration for something that you think will help your students as the summative assessment. Do you have any suggestions? What would you add? If you are a teacher, administrator, or in education of any kind, what do you think is important to keep in mind for this type of communication?

Intro Video, Syllabus, Objectives

1. What is the Communication Process?

a. Infographic and explanation of terms

b. Example model

c. Video: Who’s on First?

d. Scenario 1 – Discussion Post – replies are optional

e. Create scenario and infographic that shows the communication process of the created scenario

2. Teacher/ Student Communication

a. Why is it important?

i. Mutual Respect

ii. Student success

iii. Making it a consistent practice will make life easier

b. Types of student communication

i. Verbal (think about non-verbals when you are talking)

ii. Written (email and directions)

c. Miscommunications – video: The Importance of Communicating Clearly

d. Discussion Post – explain a time when communication went wrong between you and a student. What could you do differently in the future to avoid the same problem? (Respond to at least 2 posts using appropriate vocabulary giving additional guidance or relating to the experience)

e. Flipgrid Video – role-playing a miscommunication between a student and teacher Respond to 2 other flipgrid videos with an explanation of where the miscommunication occurred and how the teacher could work to keep it from happening that way again. *Note to self – post instructions for flipgrid

3. Teacher/ Parent Communication

a. Types of communication focusing on email, phone (video)

i. Respond in a positive manner

ii. Respond within 24 hours whenever possible

iii. Respond in the same way that the parent reached out to you

b. Professional terms and vocabulary

c. See yourself as allies for the success of the student

d. When and how to initiate communication with parents – goal is to communicate positively at least once first

e. All-class messages/ newsletters

f. Discussion post: Where do you think your strengths lie in communicating with parents? Where do you still have room to grow? (Respond to at least 2 others giving suggestions to help others grow in the area they feel they need it most)

g. Write a professional email to a parent explaining a sample situation. Create a sample response from the parent and explain where things went right or wrong. Submit as a google doc

4. Teacher/ Teacher Communication

a. Focus on one-on-one in person communication

b. Video/ Slideshow of examples of teacher to teacher communication

c. Incivility – video Ted Talk Christina Porath

d. Discussion: Have you ever had an encounter with another teacher that you felt was uncivil? How did it impact your day? Did it impact your influence on students? (Respond to at least 2 other posts with growth mindset reactions to the situations mentioned)

e. Use “Storyboard That” to create an example of teacher/ teacher communication and explain the communication process and where it went wrong and/or right in the example *note to self – post video of how to use Storyboard That

5. Teacher/ Administration Communication

By the way, I am posting this week from my hotel room in San Francisco, so here is a picture that I took of the Golden Gate Bridge today!

Golden Gate Bridge 7/27/19