Kids+Who+Do+No+Wrong

=1. How do I work with parents who think their child can do no wrong?=

After browsing the resources about working with parents, negotiate with your group five key concepts to remember when dealing with difficult parents. Draw upon suggestions from the readings. You can negotiate your "top 5" in writing or f2f.

5 Key Concepts to Remember about Working with Parents
1. Document everything, don't go it alone. 1a. Ask the teachers what you (as the teacher) can do for them.

2. Listen, let the parents vent, don't get defensive. 2a. Be prepared and know what the purpose is for your teaching and classroom. Be clear and confident with what your goal is for your students.

3. Talk in senses of we. 3a. Think ahead about what you will say. Be calm. Make eye contact with them.

4. Offer to meet to discuss further. 4a. Ask the parents what their concerns are and paraphrase what they have said. Let them vent first.

5. Speak calmy and firmly and focus on behaviors, not the student. 5a. Keep track of student's profile. Make note of their behaviors, progress and personal issues (with notes or a log). Know the student and be prepared to report on their progress without hesitation.

Once you have your list, create a scenario that deals with your question. Write a short paragraph that describes a likely situation including what the key players (student, teacher, parent) have done and how they are feeling now. You can write the scenario as a group or someone can post an idea for the others to revise until you are all satisfied. Type your scenario below.

Scenario
A student is continuously missing homework. It is mid-semester and the student is already missing 10 assignments, which is a large portion of her grade. A note was sent home for the parent to sign, recognizing that the parent is aware of the student' s missing work. Nothing was returned. __---_____---___

_--- A parent calls the teacher after receiving the progress report card from their child (the student). Turns out, they are earning a C average in the foreign language class and receiving a 2 out of 4 for participation. The parent is irate about the news because their child has consistantly been a good student and has always participated in class and been a "model student." The parent cannot figure out how this could be true. They are convinced there has been a mistake and the grade has been miscalculated and it was completely your fault. They want to meet with you as soon as possible to discuss this issue.

When you have your scenario, each person should draft a hypothetical email to the parent in response to the scenario. Write the emails on the discussion boards. Read your classmates' work and comment on it. Look at it from the point of view of the parent, the student, and an administrator. How does it come across? What suggestions do you have?