Unit 1 - Communication and Professional Relationships with Children, Young People and Adults
Unit 1 - Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults 1.1 The Importance of maintaining effective communication with children, young people and adults
Effective communication is key to developing and then maintaining relationships at all levels of teaching because the pupils have to be able to understand the messages that are being conveyed.
Good communication and the ability to express ones feelings and thoughts is an important enabler to building trust between Teaching Assistant, pupils and other colleagues.
Misunderstandings can quickly develop into conflict without effective and positive communication.
Maintaining age appropriate levels of written and verbal communication is important as children develop. For example, words and phrases understood by Year 6 pupils may not be understood in earlier years.
It is important to remember that effective communication is a two way process that requires both listening and speaking skills. Pupils that do not feel that they are being listened to or understood may tend to feel marginalised with the risk that they may withdraw into themselves and even give up.
Listening
Active listening encourages pupils to feel confident that their contribution is valued.
Positive body language, including facial expressions can help to grow the pupil’s confidence and also strengthen the relationship between pupil and Teaching Assistant.
Maintaining eye contact with the pupil is very important. This helps the child to avoid distractions and maintain concentration.
Questioning
Asking open questions is an important technique that encourages the pupils to express their thoughts and ideas and helps to test their understanding. How, why and what questions encourage the pupil to respond with more than a one word answer.
It is important that pupils are encouraged to ask questions and not to become anxious if they do not understand a particular subject.
Pupils should be encouraged to
Effective communication is key to developing and then maintaining relationships at all levels of teaching because the pupils have to be able to understand the messages that are being conveyed.
Good communication and the ability to express ones feelings and thoughts is an important enabler to building trust between Teaching Assistant, pupils and other colleagues.
Misunderstandings can quickly develop into conflict without effective and positive communication.
Maintaining age appropriate levels of written and verbal communication is important as children develop. For example, words and phrases understood by Year 6 pupils may not be understood in earlier years.
It is important to remember that effective communication is a two way process that requires both listening and speaking skills. Pupils that do not feel that they are being listened to or understood may tend to feel marginalised with the risk that they may withdraw into themselves and even give up.
Listening
Active listening encourages pupils to feel confident that their contribution is valued.
Positive body language, including facial expressions can help to grow the pupil’s confidence and also strengthen the relationship between pupil and Teaching Assistant.
Maintaining eye contact with the pupil is very important. This helps the child to avoid distractions and maintain concentration.
Questioning
Asking open questions is an important technique that encourages the pupils to express their thoughts and ideas and helps to test their understanding. How, why and what questions encourage the pupil to respond with more than a one word answer.
It is important that pupils are encouraged to ask questions and not to become anxious if they do not understand a particular subject.
Pupils should be encouraged to
References: * Teaching assistants Handbook Level 3 – Hodder Education * Supporting Teaching and Learning In Schools – Louise Burnham * Sherborne Abbey School Website