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So I have a conference that got a little like an interrogation last Tuesday. My admin scheduled the finishing conference this Tuesday. My student has a horrible attitude and is very negative. When I call her mother she gives one word answers with a horrible tone. This is b/c she doesn't like me. She has already told my principle that she thinks I am racist. Funny to that b/c I am married to a black woman.
Anyway
This is what I want to say:"When I call you about an attitude I get attitude." That will not go over well with her.
Can anyone reword it to still be short, simple, and effective?
"I don't believe you're receptive to my concerns" ???
Nicely said, Dark of the Moon.
Keep in mind that while you have legitimate concerns about this student, her mother may be projecting negative experiences from her past onto you. It doesn't make the mother right, but it does mean that you are fighting an uphill battle against our culture's history of tending to be more likely to label black students as low achieving or having behavioral problems. For a parent who may have experienced this in the past (or has had friends/family members who experienced this in the past), it could be harder for her to trust that your concerns are legitimate. Again, that doesn't justify mom's bad attitude, but it is something to be aware of.
Though you may want to be succinct, specific information will help your case. You may have already given that information in your meeting, however. If you can say, for example, that for the past three homework assignments child has turned in her work x days late, that's data that is hard to refute or attribute to racism.
Keep in mind that while you have legitimate concerns about this student, her mother may be projecting negative experiences from her past onto you. It doesn't make the mother right, but it does mean that you are fighting an uphill battle against our culture's history of tending to be more likely to label black students as low achieving or having behavioral problems. For a parent who may have experienced this in the past (or has had friends/family members who experienced this in the past), it could be harder for her to trust that your concerns are legitimate. Again, that doesn't justify mom's bad attitude, but it is something to be aware of.
Though you may want to be succinct, specific information will help your case. You may have already given that information in your meeting, however. If you can say, for example, that for the past three homework assignments child has turned in her work x days late, that's data that is hard to refute or attribute to racism.
Thanks,
Acutally this students is bright and makes good grades. The thing here is her bad attitude and negative behavior. She gets mad and says "I'm a tell my momma you won't let me ............" under her breath. That just gets old.
You need to make it clear to the parent that you want her child to succeed but that won't be possible if she won't listen to you. Then explain what she does. Ask the mother for her help. You need the mother to be on your side to help her daughter.
So I have a conference that got a little like an interrogation last Tuesday. My admin scheduled the finishing conference this Tuesday. My student has a horrible attitude and is very negative. When I call her mother she gives one word answers with a horrible tone. This is b/c she doesn't like me. She has already told my principle that she thinks I am racist. Funny to that b/c I am married to a black woman.
Anyway
This is what I want to say:"When I call you about an attitude I get attitude." That will not go over well with her.
Can anyone reword it to still be short, simple, and effective?
"Our level of communication seems strained and inadequate" bit*c* h
What we've got here is failure...to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men.
Thanks you all. I think I have some good starting points from the suggestions above. My principal just tells me that is all about perception and we will move on. Well we will see how this goes. I want to say so many things but it will best not to. Funny thing is that I was so nonconfrontational in the last meeting that included three other teachers and a admin that they took it as disrespectful. I will try to remember to keep you guys posted on this.
She has already told my principle that she thinks I am racist.
Funny to that b/c I am married to a black woman.
This is what I want to say:"When I call you about an attitude I get attitude."
That will not go over well with her.
Can anyone reword it to still be short, simple, and effective?
Your wife probably can.
Why don’t you have her make the call.
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