#2 Be Polite and Calm
Yes, it will happen. A parent will get angry, or upset and probably take it out on you. But one of the best tips is to remain polite and calm. There is something to be said about bringing a calm energy to a fight. It really does contribute to bringing everyone back down to calmly discuss what might have happened to Johnny during recess. Remember parents just want to be informed and want to be a part of the education of their children. Of course, parents are going to be passionate when something goes wrong. Stay calm and give the facts. Be polite and if the parent is really combative, politely say you will need to call them back with the support staff at a later date. Easy. Polite and calm will definitely bring you a long way!
#3 Show the Data!
Why not bring the data! Parents want to know how Sally did on her math test or what her benchmark scores are and if they are increasing. Data is so important because parents may not actually know what goes into report card grades. Bring samples of the child’s work to a parent teacher meeting. If the student is struggling in writing, bring their writing portfolio(grab this one here). Be clear on your expectations, the standards, and the goals of the school to help make it clear to the parents where their child may be falling academically. By showing the data, or the work, parents then see what you see as the teacher, and it may open up the communication even more.