Goal: To equip teachers with tools and techniques that would help them to deal with insubordinate pupils and demanding parents.
Situation:
The teachers declared a lack of knowledge of practical tools with which they would be able to comfortably conduct conversations with both pupils and their parents on difficult topics. This was extra strain on their work and negatively influenced the quality of teaching.
Activities undertaken:
During the training needs analysis we elicited a number of recurring situations in which the teachers needed the most support. As a result, we composed a three months training which involved both group and individual coaching sessions. The topics covered included: interpersonal communication skills, theory of conflict, moderation and facilitation techniques, assertiveness techniques, innovation and mission in the teacher’s profession.
Results:
Pre-test and post-test analysis showed that teachers noticed increased job satisfaction. Thanks to the newly acquired skillset, they were able to talk freely with both pupils and their parents on sensitive or challenging topics. At the same time, the teachers noticed a positive correlation between improved communication in the class and higher effectiveness in motivating the pupils to engage in prosocial behaviour. Moreover, the teachers declared better cooperation among each other. Trusting in their own abilities, the teachers took more courage to solve daily problems in the class independently and creatively.