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' behavior 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 behaviors 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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Student Progress Report Parent Letter Templates
Track academic and behavioral data with this set of progress report templates.
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Brag Tags
Provide positive reinforcement for good behavior and achievements with printable Brag Tags!
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Meet The Teacher Presentation Template
Introduce yourself and your classroom expectations to parents and students with a customizable Meet the Teacher Slideshow!
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Happy Note Home
Communicate positive messages to parents and guardians with a Happy Note Home letter template.
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Student Intervention - Weekly Form for Teachers
Update parents and guardians every week using this editable weekly student report template.
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Parent-Teacher Conference Documentation Form
Use this printable Teacher-Parent Conference Form to organize your parent-teacher conferences ahead of time and keep accurate and detailed records of parent communication.
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Anti-Bullying Coloring Sheets
Discourage bullying and promote kindness in the classroom with a set of printable Anti-Bullying Coloring Sheets.
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All About Me Bag Ideas & Tag Template
Get to know your students a bit better by having them create ‘All About Me’ Bags!
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I Wish My Teacher Knew Activity Sheet
Add an ‘I Wish My Teacher Knew’ activity to your first-day plans to learn more about your new students.
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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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Missing Assignment Templates
Promote student accountability for completing assignments with a printable missing work log and parent contact form.
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Editable Parent Reminder Notes
Keep your parents informed with this set of 27 editable reminder notes.
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Editable Classroom Newsletter
Give important information to your students’ parents and guardians by using this editable classroom newsletter.
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Grade Level Goal Grids (K-2)
Inform students and parents of their grade level goals with standards-based grade level goal grids for Kindergarten through 2nd grade.
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Student Behavior Contract Template
Create a classroom community and ensure adherence to rules and procedures with a printable Student Behavior Contract Template.
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Parent Teacher Conference Sign In Sheet Templates
Be prepared for conferences with a printable pack of parent teacher conference sign-in sheet templates.
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A Letter to My Teacher Activity Sheets
Get to know your students a bit better using a ‘Letter to Teacher’ template.
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Classroom Wish List - Card Set
Set up a Classroom Donation Station at Meet Your Teacher Night with our printable classroom donation card set.
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Editable Teacher Forms for the Classroom
Use this collection of teacher printables to organize parent volunteers, receive feedback from substitutes, keep students up to date on missed work and more!
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Positive Notes for Students – Printable Templates and Tracker
Strengthen connections and celebrate achievements with this set of positive note templates.
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Mini Classroom Mailbox Template
Use this mini classroom mailbox template in a variety of ways.
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Helpful Homework Tips for Parents
Helpful tips to support students as they complete homework.
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A Teacher’s Favorite Things List
Organize your school gift exchange in advance with a printable Teacher Favorite Things form!
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Weekly Progress Report Template
Use a printable weekly progress report template to keep parents up-to-date on their student's behavior and work habits.
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Google Sheets Digital Teacher Planner
Start the school year with a ready-made digital lesson plan and record book using our Google Sheets Digital Lesson Planner.
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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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All About Me Activity - Library of Learning Book Stack 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 with your students each day with this template.
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Emotional Self-Regulation – Student Emotion Mood Meter
Allow your students to communicate how they are feeling using a non-verbal, desk-sized mood meter.
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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 behavior and more!
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Editable Back-to-School Pamphlet
Share important information with parents and guardians with this back to school printable pamphlet.
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Morning Greetings Display
Greet each student at the door in style with this set of 4 greetings posters.