How can you use restorative practices to improve communication with parents?

In some ways restorative practice needs to be very much aware of what restorative practice is not as much as restorative practice is. If the practice you undertake will not produce a change it should not be undertaken. If those involved do not feel the ability to speak or that they possess agency it should not be undertaken. If people are silent in the process it is probably not working in real time, right in front of your eyes.

Restorative practices in healthcare are focused on reducing blame, fostering trust, and promoting empathy and understanding, especially in situations involving medical errors or challenging interactions. To achieve this, medical training places a significant emphasis on developing physicians' medical consultation skills. This training highlights the importance of building rapport, gathering information, and effectively communicating explanations and plans. Furthermore, these medical consultation skills training efforts also carry over into medical teaching practices, thereby promoting restorative practices in health professions education.

In my experience as a school leader and teacher restorative practices are essential to building a positive community esp when parents are stakeholders. Regular dialogue between teachers and parents about their children education needs to be seen as an integral part of teaching and learning. In cases of conflict resolution it’s important to listen to parents perspective, be ready to accept our mistakes and be honest and open so that the road to recovery and healing can occur. Restorative practices can often be neglected when work load increases and this can cause potential harm to community trust and respect.

Restorative practice can help to promote relationship and both sides to be heard and especially feel that they are heard and respected. It builds on showing empathy and respect for each other and that way even difficult issues are easier to be discussed. It is important to acknowledge that using these practices may not always solve the problem but it will start a dialogue.

Engage parents as partner in  their child's educational journey. By collaboratively setting academic milestones and intertwining home support with school efforts, the journey becomes a joint adventure. Keeping parents informed, be it about a spontaneous classroom activity or a curriculum shift, ensuring that they're co-pilots rather than passengers- moreso in private higher education settings where parents are the account payer

A lot of the benefit of restorative practice comes in when people feel heard. If a stakeholder does not feel that they hold a stake they will reach out to others, apart from you, who may not care about the process and may act on their own agendas. What this should not be is a customer service practice or an effort to triage work and that is a lot of the appeal of it to many in educational leadership, because leadership overwhelms and drains and puts people to work everywhere.

We all live in this world, however, different experiences and realities shape our perspectives. Public institutions, like schools, make swift decisions that often impact more individuals than realized. This can lead to families feeling that they aren't involved in much of the process or choices that are made for their children. Restorative practices are not to ignore or push an issue to the side, but to gain an understanding that allows for a leveled playing field. This helps many to get to the root of an issue, in order to truly allow people to contribute in a way that is meaningful for them. Using restorative practices in educational communities should not only empower families but also be responsive in providing adequate resources

Restorative practices have helped shape the direction in which an institution takes. Parents are a major stakeholder in school. The values they hold and wish to be held by their Children, gives guidance on what an institution should strive to achieve. Also having restorative practices helps prevent same mistakes happening in future.

There are many benefits that comes with using restorative practices as improvement in communication with parents ■ It can enhance/strengthen the relationship between parents and educators and also improve the relationship with their children ■ It can build trust between the parents and the educators ■ It can also enable the parents to understand their children the more and know the children's ambition, and life goals ■ It helps create an avenue for mediation and conflict resolution in case of a misunderstanding ■ Restorative practices improves the school culture and learning environment for both the students and educators

Taken at its most fundamental level, Restorative practices are those activities that integrate 3 things: 1) A shared activity between & among participants such as building a school garden, organizing a play with collaborating participants, swapping roles for a day: Teachers bring the cupcakes & Parents instruct the class. 2) RP's can only do so much. However, small steps toward new behaviors are productive to break down barriers. Participants can easily disagree, but with a little nudge common ground is inevitable: shared experiences, hobbies, food. These topics don't solve challenges, but they open a door to the humanity of the "Other." 3) Involve Children. It's vital to see adults resolve issues in a peaceful, productive manner.

You need to acquire as much information as you possibly can to possess the appropriate context and then set the stage as much as you can for the results. You should plan for a variety of responses because this will not necessarily go the way you imagine it will. What would you say in their shoes? Act accordingly.

I agree but I would also like to like that to prepare for restorative communication with parents, focus on empathy, active listening, and problem-solving. Create a safe, respectful space for open dialogue. Be ready to use "I" statements, practice active listening, and approach the conversation with an open heart.

It is a welcome step, it will always be good if a break in a relationship does not occur. slight misunderstanding should be cleared immediately so that there is no need for restorative communication.

Parents need to be regarded as collaborators in their children's education and so it is important for teachers or tutors to be able to build trusting relationships with parents. There needs to be easy mechanisms for feeding positive comments to parents and building this effective relationship so that if things go wrong for their children they are open to working with the school to resolve this. There is no blame only a joint desire to resolve the problems.

First of all you must have an agenda, purpose or a motive behind engaging in restorative communication with the parents. Afterwards you would need to acquire a lot of relevant information (as much as possible) that is related to the purpose you have earlier stated. You can then decide on the time, venue, potential questions that may be asked and answers to those questions.

The guidelines that people conduct restorative practices within apply before physical meetings ever take place. Do not think that the event begins when the people involved come to sit in your conference room. This all begins electronically the moment an incident occurs and it is communicated.

I don't believe there are specific methods, steps or guidelines that has to be followed during the meeting because majority of the time, such meetings do not go as planned. You just have to remain polite while making your points and stating your purpose and always try to avoid critism. Most parents do not approve of that.

In my experience, I have found it is always best to work with a positive outcome in mind. In doing so, one often has to take a few steps back to allow individuals the space to communicate. Often all individuals want is to be heard. Listening without judgment is key. Once individuals have the platform to release an emotion, the listener acknowledges, common understanding is achieved, everyone begins to think rationally, and that positive outcome is closer than you think. During the process above, there has to be a level of authenticity, a conversation that has empathy and care as its foundation. Being Human is critical.

Turning around a difficult parent in a school to a more positive and constructive relationship can be a challenging but essential process for the well-being and success of the child. It is always better to phone the parent or address an issue face to face than texting or emailing. Open and honest communication is key. Most often I have experienced that listening is a great deal, listening to the parent's concerns and grievances without interrupting always works. Sometimes, parents just need to feel heard and understood. Involve them in finding a solution together. Once they know that the teacher is authentically listening and wants the best for their child, positivity and collaboration in the school community rise!

In my experience, conducting restorative communication with parents involves creating a safe and respectful space for dialogue. I prioritize empathy, using "I" statements to express my feelings and needs. Active listening and involving parents in decision-making build trust and resolve issues collaboratively. Regular follow-ups ensure ongoing support and improvement. This approach has not only improved communication but also nurtured strong, positive relationships.

I'm surprised that this is the only time "recognition" has been been mentioned in the article. 😱 Recognition is not only for follow-ups. Recognition should be given before, during, and after meetings/engagements with parents. It's fundamental to feeling appreciated. How should parents be recognized? They should be given specific and sincere commendation. Most problems, especially familial ones, crop up due to the fact that someone does not feel appreciated. As humans, if we feel appreciated then we're more likely to accept hard suggestions and advice. And, OH BOY, do parents need suggestions and advice. But do them a favor: make their load lighter by giving them proper recognition.

In my practice, I follow up by scheduling meetings or calls to check on the progress of action plans we've developed together. I ensure parents feel heard, address concerns promptly, and provide updates on their child's development. This personal touch reinforces trust and keeps our communication open and supportive.

Human relationships are crucial in school. They are the basis of all the learning. Parents are not taught how to be a parent. These days, many parents are out of touch with their children due to either their busy lifestyle, technology addiction or for other reasons .Establishing good restorative communication with the parents sets relationship protocols and practices means that all is clear for all, parents, teachers and students. This develops a path for future problem solving.

According to my perspective a wakeup call is the need of an hour. Good communication and time by time updation is the helping tool for parents well as for teachers also.where appreciation and open discussion happen without any hesitation .

If a student allows, by documentation, communication with a parent, the information they provide can be extremely valuable to the instructor, particularly when teaching virtually. In my experience, I've learned from a parent that the student has a mental disability and did not follow procedure (from the Institution's Disability Center) for reporting this (and other disabilities) to the instructor.

Activities like Family Wellness Programs help by promoting well-being through family-oriented activities such as fitness classes, mindfulness sessions, and stress-reduction workshops. This is one way of supporting restorative communication with the parent community.

1. Create a Safe Space as it establish an environment where open and honest communication is encouraged. Make sure both parents and school staff feel safe to express their feelings and concerns without fear of judgment or retribution. 2. It Invest in building positive relationships with parents. This includes attending school events, parent-teacher conferences, and showing genuine interest in their child's well-being. 3. It help them in actively listen to parents when they express concerns or issues. Allow them to share their perspective without interruption. Show empathy and understanding.

Restorative practice fits snugly into the EYLF Principles. Principle 1: Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships - removes blame and shame and look at how to focus on facts and restore respect. Principle 2: Partnerships -Families know the most about their child and are the strongest advocate for them. Principle 3: High expectations and equity - levels the playing field so we can understand each other and move forward. Principle 4: Respect for diversity helps us open up to perspectives we have not considered and builds a sense of belonging for all. Principle 5: Ongoing learning and reflective practice builds capacity to develop stronger relationships and communication with children and families.

It is often crucial to foster understanding and engagement. Educating staff and parents on restorative communication practices can help focus on repairing harm and nurturing positive relationships. This could help strengthen the bond between educators and parents for the benefit of a student(s) well-being and academic success.

Restorative practices can be highly beneficial when implemented as intended. However, when educators fail to administer them effectively, it can strain the relationship between parents and teachers, ultimately having a negative impact on the school. Finding a mutual understanding can also be challenging, as acceptance levels may become limited for both parties. Both the parties should be able to convey clearly their expectation and be heard will help them to reach to a mutual understanding to gain the accurate result.