How can we possibly make time for parent communication when we have so. much. to. do? I have a few ideas that might help make it a little easier…

Parent communication can be a beast for anyone working in a school, but for SLPs it can be especially tricky because of our large caseloads. I share four time-saving tips in this blog post, as well as a link to a free parent communication log template that will help you get – and stay – organized. Get all of the details and the freebie inside!

But First… Why Communicate?

You have so much on your plate… Why take the time to communicate?

Having a good communication system can actually save you time (and help your students)!

  • It cuts down on IEP meeting time (and makes meetings more productive).
  • It empowers parents to participate in the team.
  • It gives parents tools that they can use support their child’s progress.
  • It improves student outcomes (Stoner et al., 2013; Kaiser & Roberts, 2013).
  • And more!

The best part? I’ve got some time-saving tips!

1. Make a list of student contact information.

Save time by putting your students’ contact information in one list! (I don’t know about you, but it often takes 2-3 minutes just to be able to look up a phone number at my school.) Keep the list handy so it’s easy to make a quick phone call.

2. Keep a parent communication log.

Ain’t no one got time to log all the little things that we do, but–if I have a more substantive conversation with a parent–I make sure to log it. SLP Now has a section specifically for parent communication tracking! But if you’re not a member, scroll down to download the free parent communication log template.

For a low tech option, check out Queen Speech’s label idea. I used to make my own labels to log parent communication, and I kept them by my phone. This way I can easily jot down notes whenever I was talking to a parent. Every few weeks, I transferred the labels to the students’ individual communication logs.

3. Communicate early (before the IEP is due).

Keep track of your IEP due dates and start contacting parents early. I use SLP Now to keep track of my IEP/evaluation due dates. I also add reminders on my Google Calendar to help me remember when to start making calls.

4. Communicate regularly.

At the beginning of the school year, I was really good at making phone calls to touch base with parents (especially when a student did something awesome), but that quickly became unmanageable as my caseload grew. Instead, I looked for easier, more efficient ways to keep in touch. Here are some of my favorites:

• At the beginning of the school year, I send home a quick letter to all of my students. Natalie Snyders has a great template.
• I also did a review of different time-saving tools for parent communication and homework.
• I attend parent conferences!

You could also…

• Write quick notes on my students’ homework.
• Send home brag tags with students.
• Send home weekly/monthly newsletters.


Check out this video for a peek at some of these materials/ideas…

As I mentioned before, parent conferences are a great time to touch base with parents. I shared my favorite tips and tricks for these meetings here!

Now you tell me… What are your favorite tips/tricks when it comes to parent communication?

marisha-mets-about-mobile

Hi there! I'm Marisha. I am a school-based SLP who is all about working smarter, not harder. I created the SLP Now Membership and love sharing tips and tricks to help you save time so you can focus on what matters most--your students AND yourself.

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Comments

  1. LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS IDEA!!! Can you email the template for the parent contact stickers and the log sheet? PRETTY PLEASE. You might have just saved me a ton of stress.

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