Classroom Communication Teaching Resources
Explore classroom communication tools for teachers perfect for communicating with parents and students this school year.
This collection of teacher-created tools was built by the teachers of Teach Starter to help boost verbal and non-verbal communication in your classroom this year so you can build strong relationships with your students and their parents.
A crucial part of being a good teacher is being a good communicator, and we've built tools that can help you be just that. Even better? This collection is stocked with tools that will also help you teach your students to be more effective communicators.
Why Classroom Communication Matters
You likely already know that a teacher's communication in the classroom is linked with student outcomes, but just how much does it matter? A lot!
Education researchers have evaluated what happens when teachers are specifically trained in classroom communication, and the results are significant. Not only do teachers spend less time on discipline and more time actually engaging their students, but the students' behaviour mirrors that of their teacher.
Meanwhile, other studies have shown that a teacher's communication skills are just as important as their knowledge base regarding their effectiveness as educators, and even how we communicate with parents can boost student success.
So, what does good classroom communication look like? Both verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as written communication, play heavily here.
Read on as we break down each.
What Non-Verbal Communication in the Classroom Looks Like
When we talk about non-verbal communication, we tend to talk about things like body language and facial expressions. Everything from how we gesture to how our faces change when someone says something falls under non-verbal communication in the real world and, of course, in the classroom.
In the classroom setting, however, non-verbal communication is particularly important to create a safe environment for our students.
A warm smile on your face when a student enters the room is a non-verbal cue that lets them know you welcome them to the space. Similarly, when we turn our bodies toward a student who is speaking and give them our full attention, we show them we value what they have to say.
These behaviours also play into our important role as role models for our students who are still learning social norms and how to be good communicators.
Non-verbal communication in the classroom can also take the form of the visual media we provide to help our students learn, including learning aids like:
- Anchor charts
- Bulletin boards
- Posters
- Maps
This type of non-verbal classroom communication helps our students learn through the help of visual representation, and they can help supplement our verbal communication.
What Does Verbal Communication Look Like in a Classroom?
Of course, that brings us to verbal communication in a classroom. Again, there are direct ties to verbal communication as we describe it in a broader context.
Verbal communication can refer to the direct instruction that's core to teaching, but it also refers to things like the greetings we give children when they enter our rooms and the one-on-one conversations we have with our students.
Of course, these all help us build relationships with our students and serve as a means of providing students with information.
Being good verbal communicators isn't just being able to impart information to or chat with students. It's being able to:
- Appropriately engage the audience
- Transmit information in clear and understandable ways
- Speak in a tone that's appropriately assertive — not intimidating or abrupt but also calm and loud enough to be heard
It's a lot for teachers to juggle; we know! It's why we've created so many tools to help!
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Parent Teacher Interview Templates
Save time, enhance organisation and strengthen the parent-teacher partnership with this set of parent-teacher interview forms.
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Parent Teacher Interview Planning Template
A planning template for parent teacher interviews.
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Parent-Teacher Conference Documentation Form
Organise your parent-teacher interviews ahead of time and keep accurate and detailed records of parent communication with a conference documentation form.
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Editable Homework Information Sheet
Use this editable template to inform parents of what homework will look like in your classroom.
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Tranquil Watercolour Digital Teacher Planner
Download a digital teacher diary to organise and streamline the lesson planning process.
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Editable Classroom Newsletter Templates
Keep communication lines open between teachers and parents by using these templates to create a classroom newsletter to share important information.
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Positive Notes Home – Parent Communication Templates
Use this editable template to share information with parents and guardians about academic improvement, positive behaviour and more!
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Student-Led Conference Templates
Implement student-led conferences in your classroom this year with printable student-led conference templates.
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Meet the Teacher - Get to Know You Game
Help your students get to know the teacher with a fun Get to Know You Game!
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Editable Class Newsletter
Give important information to your students’ parents and guardians by using this editable classroom newsletter.
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Positive Parent Notes - Doodles
Let your students parents know when they have done particularly well or shown good behaviour with a Positive Parent Note.
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Student Behaviour Contract Template
Create a classroom community and ensure adherence to rules and procedures with a printable Student Behaviour Contract Template.
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Parent Information Night PowerPoint Template
Prepare for your parent information night with a customisable slideshow template.
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Free Classroom Newsletter Template - Weekly Snapshot
Use this free classroom newsletter template to communicate important information each week.
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Editable School Notes for Parents - Classroom Reminders
Keep your parents informed with this set of 27 editable notes from the teacher.
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Genius Hour Parent Information Letter - Editable Template
An editable parent information letter describing the Teach Starter Genius Hour process.
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Parent Communication Log – Documentation Templates
Document parent phone calls, emails, meetings and more with this set of printable templates.
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Emotional Self-Regulation – Student Mood Meter
Allow your students to communicate how they are feeling using a non-verbal, desk-sized mood meter.
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Learning Preference Worksheet
Learn your new students' likes and dislikes with this learning preference sheet.
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How Are You Feeling Today? Emotions Template
A template to help your students express their emotions.
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Meet The Teacher Presentation Template
Introduce yourself and your classroom expectations to parents and students with a customisable Meet the Teacher Slideshow!
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Weekly Newsletter Templates
Send out important information to your students’ parents and guardians using weekly newsletters made with our handy templates!
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Positive Affirmations for Kids — Classroom Display Cards
Print a set of 25 positive affirmations display cards for kids to use in your classroom.
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Helpful Homework Tips for Parents Poster
Helpful tips for parents on how to support students to complete homework.
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Maths Activity Ideas for Parents - Multiplication and Division
An information sheet for parents or carers to use when assisting children with multiplication and division at home.
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Fractions and Decimals Maths Activity Ideas for Parents
An information sheet for parents or carers to use when assisting children with fractions and decimals at home.
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Parent Teacher Interview - Sign In Sheet Templates
Be prepared for parent-teacher interviews with a printable pack of parent teacher interview sign-in sheet templates.
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Student Interest Survey Pack
Use a Student Interest Survey to get to know your new students at the beginning of the school year.
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Meet The Teachers - Template for Back to School BINGO!
Encourage your students to explore their new classroom and meet the teachers with a game of Bingo!
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Meet The Teacher Station Signs - Editable
Organise your Meet the Teacher event by setting up classroom stations using our printable Back to School Station Signs.
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All About Me Activity - Library of Learning About Me Craft
Get to know your students by building a library of “About Me” book stacks with a unique All About Me activity.
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Student Daily Check-In Template
Check in on your students' emotions each day with a printable emotions chart.