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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Class Party Signup Letter Templates
Prepare for class parties ahead of time with printable Class Party Signup templates for holidays throughout the year.
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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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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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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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Meet The Teacher Scavenger Hunt
Make Parent Information Night a bit more fun with a Meet the Teacher Scavenger Hunt!
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Monthly Newsletter Calendar Templates
Keep students and parents informed of classroom happenings by providing a monthly newsletter with a handy editable newsletter template.
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Student Interest Survey - Early Years
Determine your students' interests with this survey for early years students.
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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 Progress Report Template
Update parents and guardians every week using this editable weekly student report template.
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Back to School – Meet the Teacher PowerPoint Template
Use an editable slide deck during to foster communication during your 'Meet the Teacher' or 'Back-to-School Parent Information' event.
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Student Gift Tags - Owl Miss You
Attach an 'Owl Miss You' gift tag to your end of year student gifts.
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Student Gift Tags - Your Future's So Bright I Have to Wear Shades
Brighten your students' end of year with fun end of year student gifts adorned with a fun student gift tag!
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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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Maths Activity Ideas for Parents - Addition and Subtraction
An information sheet for parents or carers to use when assisting children with addition and subtraction at home.
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Accident Report Form
Notify parents and guardians of any accidents at school with a printable accident report form for schools.
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Back to School Treats - Student Gift Tags
Give your students a fun back-to-school gift tagged with one of these fun student gift tags!
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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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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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Classroom Wish List - Card Set
Set up a Classroom Donation Station at your Parent Information Night meeting with our printable classroom donation card set.
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Back to School - Family Survey
Promote parent involvement and get to know your students better with a beginning-of-the-year parent survey template.
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Meet The Teacher Postcard Templates
Use this Meet Your Teacher postcard template to prep your back-to-school letters and ease your students’ first-day jitters.
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Ready Confetti - Student Gift Bag Tags
Calm your students' first-day jitters with bags of Back-to-School Ready Confetti topped with fun First Day of School poems.
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10 Reasons Why - End of Year Letter to Students
Strengthen connections and send your students off on summer vacation with an encouraging end-of-year letter to students.
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Parent Handbook Flip Book Template
Start the school year with informed parents by providing them with a parent handbook.
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New Student Survival Flip Book Template
Be prepared for a new student any time of the year with a printable New Student Handbook template.
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Learning Preference Worksheet
Learn your new students' likes and dislikes with this learning preference sheet.
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Meet the Teacher Page Border - Portrait
A 'Meet the Teacher' editable page border to write a note to your students and their families before school begins.
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Classroom Wish List – Giraffe
A classroom wish list to display at the beginning of the year.
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Multi-Purpose Student Tags
A page of multi-purpose student tags.
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Easter Appreciation Tags
A set of tags to show your appreciation of teachers, students and staff in the lead up to Easter.
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Printable Information Form for Students - Parent Survey
A survey to send home to parents at the beginning of a new school year.
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DIY Mailbox Template
A mini mailbox paper craft template.