an option

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2004 : December : 16

an option
By SB

We as teachers are obligated to report what we observe, both negative and positive. Parents, however, are naturally protective of their children. I wonder if the parents know in their head that things are not quite right,
but cannot bring themselves to accept it because it is very painful to accept that the child you think is perfect has faults. With parents such as these, I have found it helpful to pick a few (2-3) target behaviors and set up some time of a reporting system dealing with behaviors. I always try to pick one thing the child does well and two they need help with. This way the child is

rewarded for good as well as negative things being brought to attention of the parent. This will increase the "positive comments" automatically and thus make the objective comments easier for the parents to handle.

I think sometimes we have to think about how it feels to everyday be confronted with your child's shortcomings. A principal I admired once said "Remember, they send us the best they have--they don't keep the best at home and send us the rest." I always try to remember this when I talk with a parent--to them their child is the BEST in the world and I will get farther if I tread gently.