Teaching Tip of the Week

An occasional phone call to the children you teach can help build rapport. Any occasion will do – a birthday, holiday or absence from club or class. Just be sure to follow a few guidelines:

• Call at a reasonable hour. Not during dinner time or too late at night. You might even ask if you are calling at an inconvenient time.

• If a parent answers the phone, talk to them first. Tell them who you are and why you are calling their child. Talk to them for a few minutes to get to know them if you don’t already.

• Don’t talk too long. Don’t be too short, but don’t go on and on. Give the child a chance to respond and be a part of the conversation. Be sure to tell them you look forward to seeing them next week.