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  Case: The Questioning Parent
I teach 10th grade and there is a parent who emails be after EVERY assignment, questioning why her son received the grade he did. I provide various forms of feedback for my students that include rubrics, detailed feedback, checklists, organizers, etc., so it is easy to see and understand the point breakdown. How do I get this parent to trust my grading procedures and politely tell her to only contact me with serious concerns. I have also asked her to have her son see me after class when he has questions, but that has never happened. It appears that she likes to dominate the conversation regarding his performance in class and my grading.
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
It seems that all your efforts are reactive, I would strongly recommend a proactive approach. First of, I would reach out to the parent with a positive communication about her child's performance in class. It does not have to do with the student's academic performance, it can be about his participation in class assignments, collaboration with his peers and helping out in the class. We call these sunshine notes and the parent responds well to these as they feel that their child is being appreciated for their contribution in class. Once a positive rapport is established with the parent, they can be invited for a meeting where you can plan the course of action for future assessments and feedback. The teacher can offer to send the study guide home or email it to the parent before the test.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this.
Rated On: October 19, 2015 3:53 am
Rated By: RuTemu
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I would do exactly this.
Rated On: October 27, 2015 2:14 am
Rated By: yheGaQ
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: If I were in this situation I would exactly do this
Rated On: March 6, 2017 2:06 am
Rated By: uhuQyM
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Good idea
Rated On: October 10, 2017 3:41 pm
Rated By: aNaMeJ
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Starting with what is expected would be helpful to a helicopter parent. If there's any issues afterwards, they're free to ask questions.
Rated On: October 11, 2017 12:51 am
Rated By: yGeHyz
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This solution is very helpful
Rated On: February 25, 2018 10:28 pm
Rated By: DuTepy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this
Rated On: October 15, 2020 9:27 pm
Rated By: Angela Mitchell
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This is what I would do in this situation. This solution encourages communication between the teacher and the parent, it is easy to set up, and should solve the problem.
Rated On: October 19, 2020 12:17 am
Rated By: Santana Loar
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I like this solution of a proactive approach in order to make the parent feel more involved and ask less questions because the teacher is in communication with her.
Rated On: November 6, 2023 3:28 am
Rated By: upaMyb