• Recognize Parents as Important Participants
  Educational research documents that parental involvement and support of schools and teachers positively affects student achievement. To capitalize on this, teachers should recognize parents as significant contributors and work to foster productive relationships with all parents.
  
  Parents should be respected for their knowledge of their child and for the validity of their concerns. Teachers who recognize and exhibit positive attitudes toward parental involvement communicate a powerful message.
  
  
• Increase Communication with Parents
  Parents and schools will always share the responsibility for educating students, but it is up to teachers to communicate with parents about school and classroom issues. Use the following strategies in your efforts to improve communication.
  
  
  • Communicate often. These communications should be inviting, ongoing, and encouraging. Communicate with parents as often as possible. When you clearly communicate class goals, expectations, and grading policies and procedures, many potentially difficult situations may be easily avoided because parents and students remain informed.
    
    
  • Document communications. Various modes of communication may be utilized, including newsletters, Web sites, e-mails, parent meetings, telephoning, progress reports, personal notes, and conferences. Each communication should be documented.
    
    
  • Share information about class activities. While parents should be regularly informed about student achievement and academic status, it is also worthwhile to share details about the educational experiences students are having in your class. Be sure to inform parents of the purposes, specific academic goals, and learning objectives associated with the activities you decide to share.

Strategies for Resolving Conflicts
Even when you put your best foot forward, challenging parents may still react negatively toward you simply because you are the teacher and they are looking for someone to blame. In some cases, their behavior reflects their feelings about their own school experiences, which may have been less than ideal.

To improve your chances of reaching an effective solution, you can employ a conflict resolution model as a basic agenda. By following these five simple steps, you can involve parents in resolving the conflict and reaching an agreeable solution.

Five Steps to Conflict Resolution

Identify the problem. Brainstorm solutions. Evaluate solutions. Select a solution. Plan how to document and assess progress.

While relatively simple in nature, a conflict resolution method maintains the focus of the conference. Recognizing that comments may be sidetracked, you can bring the conversation back to the original concern-the needs of the student.

Meeting with Parents Face to Face
When meeting with parents face to face, a few simple strategies can improve the outcome of the meeting.

Relationship Builders

Approach the parent with respect and expect respect. Project confidence by sitting next to or across from the parent. Remain calm, friendly, and professional at all times. Maintain eye contact. Be willing to listen and keep an open mind. Make every effort to understand the parent's complaint or concern. Emphasize all positives and academic gains first. Exercise empathy and reiterate your concern for the student. Address specific concerns and remain focused on what is best for the student. Share student work that supports your concerns. Offer explicit help and advice. Stand firm on school policies. End conferences on a positive note and thank parents for coming.

Relationship Breakers

Never sit behind your desk. Avoid crossing your arms in front of you or placing your hands on your hips. Do not argue or interrupt. Do not accuse; state honestly what you feel using "I" statements.

Know When to Call in Support
Even when you are prepared with a conflict resolution agenda and utilize strategies for defusing conflicts, there will be situations that warrant the need for an administrator to step in for additional support.

Make it a priority to keep your school administrators apprised of any potentially explosive conflicts. This allows them to avoid being caught unaware should the need arise for intervention or assistance during a conference.

If you are attacked verbally with threats or insults, never resort to anger, arrogance, or rejection. Instead, pause, look at the parent without emotion, and respond by saying, "I will return momentarily. I would like our principal, Mr. or Ms. _________, to join our conference," and walk out. This allows you to maintain your composure while seeking additional support. It also allows the parent time to reconsider his or her position.

Be Proactive
When you are proactive in dealing with academic difficulties-by offering specific strategies, advice, and help for improvement-you contribute to the likelihood of eventual success for the student.

You need to accept that not every parent can be won over; it is inevitable that personality conflicts will occur, even under the best of situations. However, every effort should be made to establish working relationships with all parents.

When this occurs, you can have confidence that you are doing your best to help every student succeed.

Read More about Dealing with Challenging Parents

NW Regional Educational Laboratory
This Web site defines parental involvement and the benefits for students. It addresses training for teachers, engaging parents, and pitfalls to avoid.

Teacher Support Network
This online document identifies seven, distinct, difficult personality types and ways for teachers to cope with them.

This article was contributed by Mollie Crie, an educator with 22 years in the classroom. She currently teaches for Bedford County Schools in Forest, Virginia.