How do you navigate a difficult conversation with a parent who disagrees with your educational approach?

Approaching difficult conversations with parents requires careful preparation. Before meeting, I review the student's history, understand the parent's concerns, and reflect on my own rationale. This helps me anticipate questions and objectively explain my approach. Ultimately, demonstrating empathy and a genuine desire to find common ground is key to navigating these sensitive discussions successfully.

Trust should be the fundamental value to be established, followed by concrete examples that have been thoroughly thought of and actions to show results. Explaining to the parent that you are confident in your work and applying conflict resolution skills as in understanding the concerns of the parents, being aware of the limitations of the approach along side with the benefits to be acquired. Knowledge of child psychology will be plus as it helps the parents to have an insight on the way the child thinks and perceives concepts, and how your approach can help to ease learning and to make it enjoyable and engaging.

This is the part which will make or break your conversation. Remember, no matter how little you agree with what they are saying, this person is advocating the best they can for their most valuable resource. Assume the best; assume they want the best for their child; assume you both have common ground since you also want the best for their child. With that mindset firmly in place, listen for the common ground. Use words like "I know you want the best for your daughter..." and "you are here to advocate for your child and I value your input". Starting the conversation from a place of respect and then dedicating a large chunk of time to listening helps the parent feel seen and heard.

Active listening is the first step in navigating challenging talks with parents who disagree with your educational philosophy. Let them express their worries in detail and without interruption. Respect does two things: it eases tension and makes it easier to comprehend their viewpoint. To establish a rapport and demonstrate empathy, acknowledge their worries and sentiments. Working together for the benefit of the learner is the aim. I recently spoke with a parent who was angry about a new technology-based learning resource. We discovered a reasonable solution that helped the student and allayed the parent's fears by paying attention to their anxieties and responding to them.

- Create a calm and respectful environment for the discussion, ensuring the parent feels heard and valued. - Actively listen to their concerns without interrupting, acknowledging their perspective and showing empathy for their feelings. - Clearly and calmly explain your educational approach, providing evidence and examples to illustrate its benefits and how it supports their child’s growth. - Invite the parent to share their ideas and suggestions, and be open to finding common ground or alternative solutions that align with both your educational goals and their expectations. - Emphasize the shared goal of supporting the student’s success and well-being, and propose actionable steps to move forward collaboratively.

One thing I would add is to set aside pride and put the child at the center, the same as we do for all decisions in schools. It may be that compromise is called for, and if compromise is not the answer then it is importing to me that I do everything I can to help parents understand how students are at the center of the final decision. That their child, along with any other children involved, make up the ‘why’ of what is happening.

One thing that may be missing from this list would be to share your expertise. Often, when parents disagree with teachers about the process of learning, it is due to a lack of trust in the current educational system or in new teaching methods that don’t match their assumptions of learning and their own experiences. Showing what you are doing with the parents in detail, providing examples from outside sources, and leading all of your families through examples in the beginning of a unit/school year/lesson could be a useful tool to increase parental buy-in and alleviate concerns.