Communication

Parents who are defensive of their child can be tricky to manage. Dealing with defensive reactions is difficult and often stressful. When people are defensive, they are often at their worst. They quickly become adversarial, irrational, hostile and angry. Through making subtle adjustments to our approach by anticipating and endeavoring to avoid a defensive reaction before it happens, can help manage tricky situations. According to Richard Carlson, author of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”, having the wisdom to anticipate defensive reactions allows you to avoid a great deal of conflict in the first place by not pushing certain buttons in people and by not engaging in behaviour that is likely to set them off. Respond in a composed manner, sticking…

One of the most difficult aspects of writing comments on student reports is figuring out how to phrase messages that may be difficult, challenging or confronting for parents to receive. The following tips are intended to help you determine the most tactful and compassionate way to write about tough topics in your report comments. No Surprises Don’t take the opportunity to drop a bomb. Student reports should not contain surprises. If there are major concerns then the parent needs to know before the end of the semester. No one wants to find out about a problem after it’s already spiralled out of control for weeks on end. The problems you discuss in report comments should not be a surprise to…

Most staff who work in schools, like helping others. Many of us are people pleasers and we find it difficult to say ‘no’ to someone who is seeking our assistance. At times, to stay on track you just have to say ‘no’. Try using these strategies for saying ‘no’ to other people’s requests and still keep your reputation intact. Defer – I’m not able to assist you at this time. I will be able to help you at a later date. This will filter out those who don’t follow up. Refer – Offer to connect them with someone who is better placed to help them or to some resources that would help them solve it themselves. Commitment – Share your…

Dealing with overprotective parents can be challenging. While it is understandable that parents want to ensure the safety and well-being of their children, it can sometimes lead to micromanagement and overprotective parenting that has become known as helicopter parenting. According to author Hara Estroff Marano, “Today’s parents are not just helicopter parents…they are jet-powered turbo attack models.” Here are some tips on how to handle such parents. Set clear boundaries: As a teacher, it is important to establish boundaries with parents early on. Clearly communicate what your expectations are for parent-teacher communication and involvement in the classroom. This includes advising them of the best way to contact you, setting reasonable expectations about response times and specifying when it is appropriate…