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

by Yvonne Bender

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.

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Frannie Burd]

If anyone said the things she recommends saying to me, I'd smack 'em. She gives scenarios of situations where you may need to be tactful, but I thought her examples were anything but. Her "tactful teacher" comes across as condescending, unhelpful and smug.

[Sharon]

Yes, I am with the reviewer who gave this book one star. If you are looking for sound advice, the Harvard book on my read shelf is a much better choice.

[Aaron Kershner]

Wonderful.book

Great simple ideas that can work.in many environments. Very useful for teachers who find themselves in challenging difficult situations. Wonderful!