PDF Communicating with Parents: Strategies for Teachers. The researcher found that though all principals utilized similar strategies in dealing with difficult teachers, how these strategies were applied depended on the individual administrator. Months later, I see that many teachers still feel . 11. #4) Now let the other person express his/her thoughts. Furthermore, a greater amount of time was spent during those interactions than the time span of conversations of a non-academic nature. Sometimes, teens just need someone to break the ice . Sometimes kids will make generic claims, like "The teacher's mean to me." You want to find out what that means. But when a disagreement rises to a level that draws outside attention, the principal has to take action. "I know it sounds awful, but the less contact the easier it is for you . When you can stay calm, you can stay in control. Having to deal with teacher conflicts in school is unusual but not unheard of. Principals are faced with new demands, more complex decisions and additional responsibilities than ever before. Make sure that you document EVERYTHING and whenver their is conversation/meetings held with the Principal, it is more than one parent there. A new principal shares her strategies for making sure teachers can air concerns about both their work and the health of everyone in the school. If your teen is adamant about not meeting with the teacher, than step it up a notch and help your teen set up a student/teacher conference. In Dealing with Difficult Teachers, Todd Whitaker provides school administrators with a new approach to improve the culture or environment in their schools.For Whitaker, dealing with a difficult teacher is more than just removing them from the equation, and he suggests . Who are these difficult parents, and what are the most effective ways to work with them? Principals are faced with complex and difficult challenges to turn around the campus with academic underperformance. Gather information before the meeting. No science or research from his "academic" life are cited in this editorial. Classroom tension rises. This act can often create deep conflict among school board members as well as district administrators and principals. As with any workplace, sometimes teachers prefer some colleagues to others, or have educational approaches or personalities that don't mix. As a caregiver to a child of trauma, teachers often get secondary trauma. Teachers fell ill or had to isolate because of COVID-19, and there weren't enough occasionals to fill in.Some students suddenly stopped attending when classes went virtual. "Parents do the best they can with what they know. According to a study published in 2003 in the "International Education Journal," teachers who had support from their principals and co . 3. Nurturing a positive school culture 5. Remember holidays and teacher appreciation days. Knowing common teacher interview questions and answers can also be pretty helpful as you can well image. The School Administrator February 2003 One workshop I have led for principals deals with applying Allan Glatthorn's work on differentiated supervision, including the idea of self-directed development. Eliminate paperwork and automate data . Paperwork. Experience is the greatest teacher, but soliciting simple advice can go a long ways in dealing with a difficult issue. This book provides school leaders with nonconfrontational and guilt-free strategies for handling difficult teachers who undermine efforts toward school improvement, negatively influence other staff members, and behave in ways that create problems for students and staff. This past week I hosted a webinar for principals over chapters 6-8 of Principal Matters: The Motivation, Courage, Action and Teamwork Needed for School Leaders. Experience is the greatest teacher, but soliciting simple advice can go a long ways in dealing with a difficult issue. 2. Set goals, be straightforward, and try to give him what he seeks. The results of this study provide a point of reference for future studies on Write out the concerns you have and be prepared to state the facts. If you expect vulnerability from them and an openness to communicate, you must also show them that you're willing to do the same. Being a communicator 4. Teachers find these behaviours among the most difficult to manage. Although dealing with a difficult teacher can make the school day more difficult to manage, the following tips should help you deal with even the most frustrating of instructors. Book Description. Try to . Of note is their helpful resource for "Making the Most of 'Hot Moments'" that emerge in your classroom. If you reach an understanding at the end of the meeting, sum up the highlights briefly. Unfortunately, almost every teacher is faced with an irate . When the principal talked with the teacher, he learned that she was on meds from illness (and had prescriptions to prove it). Like any workplace, schools can be plagued. 10. 1. Download Dealing With Difficult Teachers books, This book provides tips and strategies to help school leaders improve, neutralize, or eliminate resistant and . It can be tempting to blame a child's problems on the parent or even avoid or judge a difficult parent. These parents are habitually rude or demanding or disrespectful, engaging in personal attacks on teachers and administrators, demeaning and threatening them. Teachers who make it long term and still love teaching 15 or 20 years later have certain qualities in common. More Courses . Make teachers aware of their behaviors that are negative Understanding incentives. So don't request a meeting with the school principal or school board without talking to the teacher first. Improve instructional practices [It] provides practical advice with examples of helpful scripts that can be used immediately, specifics on using assertive interventions with difficult teachers, 60 ways to inspire teachers to produce results, and case studies from experienced principals."-- The School Administrator, December 2005 Published On: 2005-12-01 We received 1,236 written responses to that single question, many a paragraph or more in length that indicated a great need to share the input of principals regarding the increasingly difficult job that they face each and every day. Sometimes this requires consistently managing various demands, dealing with difficult conversations, and planting seeds of positive school culture. This term describes the process of teacher-directed improvement, such as goal setting. Principal must tell bad teachers how they are coming across and being perceived. Maybe some have lost sight of that. Restate what your principal has said. Effective Strategies: Stick . As a teacher, I relished the privilege of assisting students in achieving their goals and assisting them in being the best they could be. Keep calm and do your job. But this is an ideal response for your well-being or your career, according to Robinson. "I know it sounds awful, but the less contact the easier it is for you . Many schools are finding success with a mindfulness room (to lower stress and pull students back from fight/flight.) How does the good doctor advise principals to deal with such "difficult teachers"? Here is a list of top 10 challenges and successful strategies to promote student growth and success. There. Having to deal with teacher conflicts in school is unusual but not unheard of. Use the line, "I am telling you think because I would want to know." If I as principal feel uncomfortable addressing a negative or underperforming teacher, how doe others feel? But many of our veteran teachers advised that for your more run-of-the-mill bad principal, the best course of action is to stay out of the way. Being a character builder 3. The five most-mentioned feelings among all teachers were anxious, fearful, worried, overwhelmed, and sad. Target them. This kind of strategic thinking will increase the likelihood of success and save you a lot of wasted time and energy. C. Tensions with School Board 1. It will inspire you to use less inflammatory language in the moment. The reasons educators gave for these stress-related feelings could be divided . Being an assertive administrator 2. Put first things first. There is a growing recognition of the importance of working with teachers, serving as a mentor and coach. Previously, I thought difficult staff members were just plain difficult. Being a teacher, especially as an assistant principal, is much more than a job. Meador, Derrick. Resistant teachers were found to be the most difficult teachers to deal with. Within this purpose, the following points are examined: (a) the concept of marginal teacher, (b) the underlying reasons for marginal teacher behaviors, (c) the problems marginal teachers cause in school settings, (d) the strategies principals use most to deal with . They can simply blame the "bad teachers" for the poor morale that exists. Instead of being the student that whines about exams or homework, cracks sarcastic remarks during lecture or gives dirty looks at the . I hope you seek a counselor yourself to deal with the huge amount of stress. Johnson and Diane Watkins have seen them all in schoolsand not just roaming the halls or slouching in the back of class. No teacher should attempt to tackle a problem alone. Etheredge calls this "unpacking" what your child is saying . Dealing with frustrated or unhappy teachers and other employees who may try to . Research has shown principals account for approximately 25% of the variance in student performance in a given year, making their impact second only to that of a teacher. 1. Keep calm and do your job. Even as the temperature of the conversation rises, you must remain cool. Kill them with kindness. Paperwork and forms is one of the biggest frustrations of principals. We asked them to describe, in their own words, the three most frequent emotions they felt each day. Be succinct. #2) When you speak to the person, emphasize on yourself and not on him/her. Coaching has emerged as one of the more effective professional development options for adult learners. Educators should be encouraged to learn from each other. Principals need to teach teachers how to deal with specific language in a phone call and self control. Listen to them and show that you're attentive. These parents are habitually rude, demanding or disrespectful, engaging in personal attacks on teachers and . In this article, we offer some thoughts about the roots and context of the general trend, but our focus is on coping with the small minority of the most difficult: those who bully the school. This is where you can talk about struggles you encountered as a teacher or struggles you've seen other teachers deal with. Example answer. Be a role model. View Course. "Remember that blaming is never productive," Robinson says. The greatest impediment to change is fear. When completing a task, or attacking a day, we sometimes save the most challenging part for last. Simply because they received a bad grade or a disciplinary action doesn't mean their teacher is a bad person. Say what you need to say in a firm voice, and make eye contact. One small minority of parents are the most difficult: those who bully the school. Aggressive and violent behaviour in students is less common, but when it does happen teachers are often left feeling shocked and . Hot files.eric.ed.gov. COVID-19 Self-Care Resources Resources for teachers, parents, and students to help deal with stress and changes during the pandemic; Social-Emotional Development Discover the importance of social-emotional learning and activities to promote empathy in the classroom; Teacher Well-being Best practices for resiliency and self-care for teachers; Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools Strategies and . I've dealt with difficult principals before and needless to say OUR Parent Organization was VICTORIOUS. Here are some strategies that you can use to deal with a difficult principal. If you feel an issue needs to be raised, make an appointment with the teacher. Ask your principal if you can set up a meeting time. We have created two ebooks to do just that, the first is A+ Teachers' Interview Edge and the second is A+ Principals' Interview Edge. Give a good report early. No matter how frustrated you feel while dealing with a difficult teacher, keep your cool and act with maturity. Whether your goal is to take the lead in reforming a dysfunctional school community or to deal with one or two difficult teachers, put the following seven habits of attitude and action into daily practice: 1. How To Defuse Angry Parents For Teachers And Principals: Dealing With Angry Parents 10 Tips to Deal with Difficult Parents Effectively - Teachers.Net Gazette - by Barbara and Sue Gruber You probably never imagined contending with difficult parents when you dreamed of becoming a teacher. Protect your evenings and weekends so that you are not constantly being reminded about problems with parents. Try relaxing your shoulders, unclinching your jaw, and breathing deeply. This year, I was made prez and things have been moving. Toxic co-workers can increase your chances of developing burnout. In this conversation, I want to give . Allowing mediocre teachers to feel comfortable gives them permission to be mediocre. The main book, Dealing with Difficult Parents, 2 nd Edition, shows how your teachers and other educators can communicate with parents more effectively.