Friday, April 27, 2012

Disconnect

As a teacher, I am constantly amazed at how infrequently my students' parents actually pay attention. I struggle with this in my studio particularly where dates are concerned. It seems that no matter what I do, there is some kind of a disconnect between the information I provide and what parents remember.

At the beginning of each term, I send out registration forms. The form has the entire term's calendar at the bottom, with a note to KEEP the calendar and make note of the dates. Ninety-five percent of my parents return the entire form.

In the first newsletter of each term, I also include the entire term's calendar and ask the parents again to make note of pertinent dates.

In spite of these attempts to get everyone on the same page, every term I have to remind families again and again of the upcoming important dates. And even now, with the recital just 3 weeks away, I'm still getting parents asking me about the recital date.

I'm curious. Do other teachers out there struggle with communicating dates to parents? Do you also feel like there is often a disconnect between what you communicate and what parents actually assimilate? Have you found any effective measures to overcome the disconnect? If so, I'd LOVE your advice!

8 comments:

  1. When is the recital? No really, mine is May 19. And, I will be saying that about 500 times in the next three weeks. On that day I always put a message on my phone saying,"the recital is at 4:00pm, if that is why you are calling see you there, otherwise leave a message." I try to have compassion and that seems to pay me dividends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ;) Mine is the 18th.

      Thanks for the reminder to have compassion. I don't have kids, so it's easy for me to look at frenzied parents and not understand how hard it is to keep track of everything...

      Delete
  2. Our recital is this afternoon :) I remind everyone of everything, multiple times, regardless of whether I think they remember or not :) I have a calendar on the wall in my studio, I write the recital date and time on the tops of their assignment sheets for several weeks in advance of the performance, and I also remind them verbally as well as via a very detailed email at the beginning of recital preparation period, plus another very detailed email about two weeks in advance of the recital. I try to remember that there are many different strengths and personality types among my students' families (I took the "Strengths Finder" test and discovered that I have a very high "responsibility" trait, while others have strengths in other areas, for example, and I also am a strong Type A). Bless my students, they probably get too many reminders from me, but better safe than sorry when it comes to important dates and other information! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melody- Hope your recital is a success! :) I agree with you- too many reminders are better than too few. I think I'm going to try and go that route next term. Even though I sometimes feel that I already give too many reminders, a few more definitely won't hurt.

      Delete
  3. Ha! Ha! Melody! You sound like me. I think I "over remind" as well. My recital is May 12th. The date is on our yearly calendar, monthly newsletters (starting usually in Jan), assignment sheets, and many many emails. There always seems to be one or two though that is just oblivious despite how hard I try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we all have those few oblivious parents in our studios ;) and I try to be extra sure to try and communicate with them. Even so, I still feel like I'm constantly reminding! But you've given me a few ideas of places where I can put additional reminders- thanks for the ideas.

      Delete
  4. My recitals are this Saturday, May 5. I am like those who over remind. In March I sent home a 1/2 page flyer to "Save the Date" plus I told every parent about the date when they came to pick up their student. I have emailed the date several times. Then two weeks ago I made a full page flyer, circled their recital time in red and wrote their recital song title in red. Again, I made sure to talk to every parent when they came to pick up their child. Hopefully all the flyers and direct reminders will be successful!
    Tonya
    http://www.stringskeysandmelodies.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tanya- Thanks so much for your comment- and I hope your recital goes well tomorrow!

      I am SO impressed by all your many reminders- and I'm sure the parents appreciate it too!

      I think, after reading all these comments, that that is definitely the way to go!

      Delete