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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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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Parent Handbook Flip Book Template
Start the school year with informed parents by providing them with a parent handbook.
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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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Google Slides Meet the Teacher Template
Use this editable back to school Google Slides template for your Meet the Teacher or Back-to-School Parent Information event!
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Student Interest Survey - Primary Grades
Determine your students' interests with this survey for primary students.
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Student Interest Survey - Upper Grades
Learn your students' interests on Day 1 of a new school year with this student interest survey for the upper grades.
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Parent Teacher Conference Planning Template
Print a teacher planning template for parent teacher conferences that will keep you on top of things!
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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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Would You Rather? Parent Teacher Meeting Game
Engage students and parents in a fun game of Would You Rather? to spice up your open house for school.
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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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Emotional Self-Regulation Check-In Posters
Promote emotional awareness and self-regulation in your classroom with this daily mood check-in routine.
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Classroom Hand Signal Anchor Charts
Strengthen classroom management and reduce classroom interruptions with miniature hand signal posters and bookmarks.
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Positive Self-Talk Brag Bracelets
Encourage a positive mindset with a fun set of printable positive self-talk bracelets.
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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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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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Printable Take-Home Folder Covers
Customize and color your own Take Home Folder inserts with editable and printable folder cover templates.
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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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Positive Parent Notes - Doodles
Let your students and their parents know when they have done particularly well or shown good behavior with a Positive Parent Note.
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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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Back-to-School - New Student Flip Book Template
Be prepared for a new student any time of year with an editable New Student flip book template.
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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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Brag Bracelets - Behavior Incentives
Encourage positive behavior and reward your students for their achievements with a fun set of printable brag bracelets.
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Back to School Student Information Survey - Google Form Data Collection Resource
Collect student contact information quickly and easily with a Student Information Google Form.
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From the Desk of....Personalized Notepads for Teachers
Personalize your own memo pads or teacher notepads with our printable stationery for teachers!
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Editable Meet The Teacher Template
Use these back-to-school templates to create a letter for your new students and their families introducing yourself.
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End of the Year Gift Tags – S'mores Themed
Make the end of the school year “sweet” with these s’mores themed gift tags.
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Non-Contact Morning Greetings Posters
Non-contact greetings that students can do with their teachers and peers.
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Helpful Homework Tips for Parents
Helpful tips to support students as they complete homework.
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Classroom Wish List – Giraffe
Display your back-to-school needs for your new parents on this classroom wish list display.
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Four Squares of Learning - A Getting to Know You Worksheet
Learn your students' expectations for the new school year with this first week of school activity.
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Verbal Corrections for Students - Teacher Guide
Giving constructive feedback to students can be difficult. Use our handy teacher guide to choose appropaite feedback.
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Learning Preference Worksheet
Learn your new students' likes and dislikes with this learning preference sheet.