[Ms. J]

I have a child who is in my class this year whose parents are unhappy about their child's academic progress in my class. The child is new to our school this year, and while s/he is not struggling, s/he definitely has some areas that could use some improvement.

The parents claim at the "other school" their child was a straight A student, but our standards-based assessments as well as the child's overall academic progress in my class, are not showing the same results (I have not had the opportunity to look at the child's records from the previous school, as the file has not been received yet).
The parents insists it is my fault and the way that I am teaching their child.

I will probably have a meeting with the family and possibly admin in the next few weeks.

I am confident in my grading/teaching ability, as I have been teaching for more than ten years, and I have not had any issues like this in the past, but I would like some tips on how to best address this situation.

Any suggestions or words of wisdom would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Ms. J]

I want to add that I also explained to parents that their child is proficient or approaching proficiency in many areas. The child is not in need of major intervention by any means. Parents are just not happy child is proficient "right now", and they truly believe it's all my fault-- even though I explained all the variables that may have effected the child's grades (transitioning to new school, different/new assessments, new classmates, new teacher and teaching style, etc). Aaaahhhh!

[dolphinlover]

I have a similar situation except that my student is significantly below grade level in reading and below grade level in some writing and math areas. Parents are concerned because he was a "straight A student, even in the high math group". That is NOT what I am seeing! Everything that I am seeing was not supposedly like last year. Handwriting has gone down, math has gone down, reading has gone down. REALLY????? I don't quite believe it! But now what to do? They think our school is less than stellar because of this, when realistically, we are the highest performing school district in the state. WTH????

[kevswife]

I think it is a first instinct for some parents to blame the teacher before really assessing all parts of the situation with their child. I also think that if you were the sole problem in this situation that you would have a significant amount of students who were not progressing academically. Are the test/activities more demanding at your school than they were at the old school? I think any parents should realize that a change in schools/teachers is a change in teaching styles and assessment styles. Approaching the problem with an open mind would benefit them much more than looking for someone to blame.

[FMT]

I also have a similar problem with a student who is performing very low in Reading. She was new to the building in Grade 1 and was not picked up for Title I until this year. At this point her assessments used by our school district have her performing at the same level of the Learning Support students. I am trying to assess if she is really this low. The little girl is well behaved and very grown up. I called the parents to tell them I will have her read a book on her level and test her on that rather than test her on the current story that she is struggling to read. She was failing. Our district has not moved to the levels of A-B-C-D... but are educating us on this currently.

The parents and the child are reacting in a defensive way. Mom agreed and challenged me on each point I had to say. The child is watching me like a hawk and is trying to correct me or tell me what to do. (I really don't tolerate that so I am nicely trying to tell her I will take care of things.)

I have conferences soon and I am concerned that I am going to get nailed by the parents. I did not go to the previous teacher because I see this and maybe she didn't see as much as I do now. The child was new to our district last fall. I find going to the teacher before to be uncomfortable. She could of told the parents that she was having a hard time last year and they are playing me against the teacher.

What a mess. I just want to help the child and I have opened a can of worms. Our district is pushing and suggesting working in groups and now I have gone out on a limb. It was suggested to me by support people to do this but they do not have the parent upset with them. My principal knows I am teaching the child with the whole group but giving her the story at her level.

Now that I vented the real question is, "How do I handle myself when I get confronted at the conference?" The last thing I want to do is appear defensive. I want to have the parents with me not against me.

[TerryT]

I think that when you can back up your observations with test results and any other evidence that you feel confident is an accurate picture of this child's present performance, then you should not be worried. Parents have to realize that how their child supposedly fared at one school may not be reflected in another school with different (higher) standards.We have seen students come in from other schools sometimes who were doing so poorly we wondered how they even made it through the year, yet their previous report cards did not reflect this.
It is important that you have as much evidence as you can produce that this child is indeed where you believe h/she is, including showing parents what the curriculum objectives are and how that child stands in relation to them. In addition, it is critical you have the support of your principal on this.I would ask that h/she be present at the meeting.
Good luck!

[lakergirl]

I agree with PP about the evidence. Save a piece of child's work and make a copy of a superior piece from another student (name removed). Show them the rubric or expectation you have of stellar work vs. where their student is right now. Give them ideas of ways they can encourage and help child with the new expectations. Voice your confidence in the child and state your willingness to work with him/her. Good luck!