Student achievement and success increase when parents are welcomed and respected as partners, and given the support they need. They make our schools better places to learn, grow and thrive. As school staff and parents or caregivers, we often come up against situations where difficult topics must be addressed. What do we know about the best strategies for those moments? What questions should we be asking ourselves before we speak, and what language is best for when we do speak? Jennifer Abrams author of Having Hard Conversations, is here to discuss interpersonal communication and advocacy- to reduce frustration and increase favorable results. This presentation will provide participants with action plans and scripting tools for having those necessary humane and growth producing conversations to benefit students of all ages.
Participants will:
- Identify why they hesitate having hard conversations
- Choose questions to ask themselves before they choose to speak up in order to do so more humanely
- Articulate in productive language the challenges they are facing
- Determine the goals of the conversation and write an action plan of support
- Script the conversation avoiding trigger words that put others on the defensive
- Discover some helpful tips for the wheres and whens and hows of having productive yet challenging conversations
A teacher coach in Palo Alto CA Jennifer Abrams is a communications consultant and author who works with educators and parents on effective collaboration skills, having hard conversations and best ways to champion all kids, all grades.
Her publications include The Multigenerational Workplace: Communicate, Collaborate & Create Community, Hard Conversations Unpacked – the Whos, Whens and What Ifs, and the newest book, Swimming in the Deep End: Four Foundational Skills for Leading Successful School Initiatives.
This free event is open to the public. Students are welcome to attend.
Continuing professional development units are available.
Printable flyer for this event with Jennifer Abrams (PDF) HERE
