Parents+From+Different+Backgrounds

=7. How do I know when to hold my ground and when to “give in” to parental demands? How can I remain professional in these situations?=

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. Listen to Parents' complaints, try to understand their point of view

2. STAY CALM! Count to 10, take a deep break

3. Explain and defend your method in a parent friendly manner

4. Have available resources to defend your teaching method

5. Keep communication open, follow up if necessary.

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
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?

A parent comes into your class and accuses you of giving difficult homework. Their child failed the entire essay assignment and the parent is enraged!! She does not understand how her perfect child, Sarah, could have done badly on an essay, when writing is one of her strengths. She wants you to eliminate some of the difficult assignments, especially ones that she is not capable of assisting with. She also wants to see the proof of the failing grade.