Teachers try so hard to get to know each child -recognizing talents, humor and wit, sensitivity, kindness, determination, eagerness, curiosity, resilience. We meet each child where he or she is academically and emotionally. We develop and plan curriculum, mediate social disagreements, encourage and console, and try to make each child feel important. And we do this for 20 or more students! Sometimes, this hard work and care is diminished because of one difficult parent. Cristina of My Topography has posted a great list entitled How to Make Your Kid’s Teacher Love (or Hate) You. As she writes to parents, "If you’re stumped and don’t quite know what to say or how to interact to advocate for your child, start with being nice. Kindness goes such a long, long way."
On a similar note: From a February 21, 2005 issue of Time Magazine cover article "What Teachers Hate About Parents", Michael Thompson writes about how parents can make the most out of parent-teacher conferences.
