Math Colleagues
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Effective communication is essential when interacting with students, parents, and fellow colleagues. As teachers, we are obligated to collaborate with students, their parents, and or family members. We need the necessary communication skills to be effective educators and cultivate a successful school environment. This includes understanding the needs and diversity of our students. This page provides you with useful information on effective communication.
Effective communication is essential when interacting with students, parents, and fellow colleagues. As teachers, we are obligated to collaborate with students, their parents, and or family members. We need the necessary communication skills to be effective educators and cultivate a successful school environment. This includes understanding the needs and diversity of our students. This page provides you with useful information on effective communication.
Foundations of Communication
Communication is the verbal or nonverbal transfer of information between individuals. It's an exchange of words, signs, symbols, or body language. Communication is vital for teachers. We need to collaborate to make sure everyone in the department is on the same page, agrees with what should be taught, how things should be taught, and how to help any students who are struggling. The more open communication between us, the more we will be able to accomplish.
Communication is the verbal or nonverbal transfer of information between individuals. It's an exchange of words, signs, symbols, or body language. Communication is vital for teachers. We need to collaborate to make sure everyone in the department is on the same page, agrees with what should be taught, how things should be taught, and how to help any students who are struggling. The more open communication between us, the more we will be able to accomplish.
Interpersonal Communication
Most of our interactions will be interpersonal communication. Interpersonal communication is face-to-face communication. People exchange information by verbal and non-verbal messages. Whether you are talking to a student, parent, or another teacher, these messages should be clear and concise to effectively convey the information. Interpersonal communication is valuable because it allows us to communicate directly with one another. There is no lag between messages like there is with emails and you can actually see the person's body language and facial expressions unlike a phone call. You can understand a lot more of the message someone is conveying in interpersonal communication.
Most of our interactions will be interpersonal communication. Interpersonal communication is face-to-face communication. People exchange information by verbal and non-verbal messages. Whether you are talking to a student, parent, or another teacher, these messages should be clear and concise to effectively convey the information. Interpersonal communication is valuable because it allows us to communicate directly with one another. There is no lag between messages like there is with emails and you can actually see the person's body language and facial expressions unlike a phone call. You can understand a lot more of the message someone is conveying in interpersonal communication.
Nonverbal Cues
Nonverbal Cues are actions such as facial expressions, eye contact, body language, gestures, and proxemics. As a receiver, we can communicate how we feel about a message through nonverbal cues. Examples of nonverbal cues include the emotions of being happy (smile), sad (frown, crying), confused (furrowed brow, hand on head), angry (clenched fists), and boredom (head resting on hand). As educators, we need to be aware of these nonverbal cues as we are teaching. Our students may not be verbally telling us that our lesson is boring, but their body language might be. From those cues, we should realize if what we are doing is engaging and working for our students or if we need to evaluate our lesson and switch things up.
Nonverbal Cues are actions such as facial expressions, eye contact, body language, gestures, and proxemics. As a receiver, we can communicate how we feel about a message through nonverbal cues. Examples of nonverbal cues include the emotions of being happy (smile), sad (frown, crying), confused (furrowed brow, hand on head), angry (clenched fists), and boredom (head resting on hand). As educators, we need to be aware of these nonverbal cues as we are teaching. Our students may not be verbally telling us that our lesson is boring, but their body language might be. From those cues, we should realize if what we are doing is engaging and working for our students or if we need to evaluate our lesson and switch things up.
Interpersonal Problem Solving
Here in the math department, one of our strongest skills is problem solving. As part of our job, it is our responsibility to not only solve mathematical problems, but any problems that arise with our students and inside the math department. Many of us are aware of how to solve problems, but if a problem shall arise, it is important for the math department to come together, address the problem and collaborate to come up with some possible solutions. The more people come together, the more different perceptions and possible solutions. Together we can evaluate the potential solutions and select the best way to approach the problem. Then we can execute our solution and evaluate how effective it was. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any problems. I will be happy to brainstorm some solutions and help you solve the problem.
Here in the math department, one of our strongest skills is problem solving. As part of our job, it is our responsibility to not only solve mathematical problems, but any problems that arise with our students and inside the math department. Many of us are aware of how to solve problems, but if a problem shall arise, it is important for the math department to come together, address the problem and collaborate to come up with some possible solutions. The more people come together, the more different perceptions and possible solutions. Together we can evaluate the potential solutions and select the best way to approach the problem. Then we can execute our solution and evaluate how effective it was. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any problems. I will be happy to brainstorm some solutions and help you solve the problem.
Teamwork
We are all apart of many different teams at school. Therefore, we all need to be effective team members whether it is collaborating with other faculty members or parents. All teachers are expected to participate and be effective team members. Teamwork requires effort from all members. Teams must understand their purpose and clearly define their goals. Each member will have a responsibility and a role in the group. Groups are more effective when they discuss the roles, function, and procedures. All members of the group shall value and respect other's perspectives, ideas, and experiences.
We are all apart of many different teams at school. Therefore, we all need to be effective team members whether it is collaborating with other faculty members or parents. All teachers are expected to participate and be effective team members. Teamwork requires effort from all members. Teams must understand their purpose and clearly define their goals. Each member will have a responsibility and a role in the group. Groups are more effective when they discuss the roles, function, and procedures. All members of the group shall value and respect other's perspectives, ideas, and experiences.
Community Resources
There are many internet resources available for collaboration. Below are just some suggestions.
Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms) https://drive.google.com
Google drive is a platform for collaborating and putting together different documents. Teachers can create and share documents for others to view and edit at the same time. This allows teachers to work on the same document without being in the same place. It is also easier than creating a document in Word and then emailing it to a teammate. This way there is only one document that everyone can work on.
Pinterest www.pinterest.com
Pinterest is a great tool for ideas and collaborating with other teachers. If you have an idea, you can pin it yourself, You can also search for a certain subject and either pin it to your board or like it.
Teach Thought
http://www.teachthought.com/
All Things PLC
www.allthingsplc.info
Middle Web
www.middleweb.com
There are many internet resources available for collaboration. Below are just some suggestions.
Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms) https://drive.google.com
Google drive is a platform for collaborating and putting together different documents. Teachers can create and share documents for others to view and edit at the same time. This allows teachers to work on the same document without being in the same place. It is also easier than creating a document in Word and then emailing it to a teammate. This way there is only one document that everyone can work on.
Pinterest www.pinterest.com
Pinterest is a great tool for ideas and collaborating with other teachers. If you have an idea, you can pin it yourself, You can also search for a certain subject and either pin it to your board or like it.
Teach Thought
http://www.teachthought.com/
All Things PLC
www.allthingsplc.info
Middle Web
www.middleweb.com
Resources
Friend, Marilyn; Cook, Lynne. Interactions: Collaboration Skills for School Professionals (What's New in Special Education). Pearson Education. Kindle Edition.
Friend, Marilyn; Cook, Lynne. Interactions: Collaboration Skills for School Professionals (What's New in Special Education). Pearson Education. Kindle Edition.