Chapter Synopsis: The Educator’s/Teacher’s Guide To Dealing With Emotional And Upset Parents (Chapters 13-18)

...continued from part 2 (chapters 7-12)

Chapter 13 — Problem Solving And Negotiations Tactics

You want to create a climate where you and a parent can work together to problem solve, and that requires some negotiation skills, exchanging information, and defining each other's position and what's important. That's what's in this chapter.

Chapter 14 — Assertive Limit Setting

What do you do when interacting with a parent who is so angry, or abusive that there's no hope of progress unless his or her behavior changes? In this section we talk about what to do when a parent strays over your "civil line", or when the conversation is clearly going nowhere. You'll notice that the approach here is a bit different than standard assertive advice. It's an important chapter.

Chapter 15 — For Principals, Administrators And Managers

Principals, superindendants and managers and supervisors play crucial roles in supporting line staff -- teachers, support staff in dealing effectively with parents. This chapter provides tactics to use to teach, tutor and lead school staff to interact more effectively with parents.

Chapter 16 — The Effect of the Medium—Email and Telephones

These days a lot of communication between home and school happens via email and phones, so we've included a chapter that explains when and how each medium should be used.

Chapter 17 — Audiences, Groups, Crowds and Mobs

Educational staff often participate in various group events, doing speeches and presentations, but they also meet with more than one other person at a time (e.g. two parents). When you have additional people present the dynamics change. In this chapter you'll learn how to deal with incidental audiences and bystanders to conversations, and how speak to difficult groups who may resist the message or information you have to deliver. Powerful techniques, and essential, particularly for administrators who do group presentations.

Chapter 18 — Final Comments

Now that you've finished the book, what comes next? Here you'll find tips and suggestions about transfering what you've learned to your work, so the tactics and skills become second nature -- new and constructive habits.