The absolute worst experience for any teacher is receiving a negative comment from a parent or peer. When the negative comment comes in the form of an email asking why you disciplined a child the way you did, you start to question everything.
But it doesn’t have to derail your efforts. By examining the perspective of both the parent, student and the teacher, you start to see that everyone is after the same thing.
This week’s episode answers a question from a Sparkler. Here’s the question:
How do you balance all the positive feedback with that one email from a parent about how you’ve disciplined their child and they dread coming to art?
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- How there are three groups of people involved in an escalation of emotions
- Why it’s beneficial to establish relationships with as many parents as you can
- Why you should try to avoid connecting with parents via email
- How it’s important to get to know the children outside of the classroom (like on the playground, for example)
- Why feeding the negative energy of a parent will not provide a resolution
- Why children respond best to a consistent classroom management plan and how that builds trust
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
The absolute worst experience for any teacher is receiving a negative comment from a parent or peer. When the negative comment comes in the form of an email asking why you disciplined a child the way you did, you start to question everything.
But it doesn’t have to derail your efforts. By examining the perspective of both the parent, student and the teacher, you start to see that everyone is after the same thing.
This week’s episode answers a question from a Sparkler. Here’s the question:
How do you balance all the positive feedback with that one email from a parent about how you’ve disciplined their child and they dread coming to art?
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How there are three groups of people involved in an escalation of emotions
Why it’s beneficial to establish relationships with as many parents as you can
Why you should try to avoid connecting with parents via email
How it’s important to get to know the children outside of the classroom (like on the playground, for example)
Why feeding the negative energy of a parent will not provide a resolution
Why children respond best to a consistent classroom management plan and how that builds trust
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
HERE ARE A FEW THINSG TO KEEP IN MIND:
1. Parent’s Perspective
Allow parents to explain or vent or say what they have to say. Don’t feed or antagonize the situation by explaining what was really going on. They don’t want to hear it…at least not yet.
You never know what kind of day this person has had. It feels horrible to be on the wrong end of someone’s bad day so allowing space for the person to vent is the fastest way to resolution.
Accept responsibility and suggest a solution.
Tell her you understand how hard it can be to understand what goes on inside a classroom. Students are very different with parents than with teachers. And kids are different with one teacher than another.
2. Student’s Perspective
All students want to be good. They want to learn. They want to come to class. No kid wants to go to class with a grumpy teacher or a teacher who is always mad at them. Every kid wants to be liked or talked to in a kind, encouraging way. Every kid wants to be the kid the teacher likes….BUT only if they like and trust you.
Building trust through a very consistent classroom management plan is the most important thing you can do.
Building trust with consistent behavior is the second most important thing to do.
Always ask yourself…how can I be more consistent with this child?
Sometimes the answer is to be very firm with expectations. Some kids just push the boundaries. If they do, they must deal with the consequences. You need to be able to explain in crystal clear terms why and what the student did that broke the rules.
3. Teacher’s Perspective
Look for the golden nuggets (or piece of truth) inside every negative comments or criticism
Accept that you may get it wrong. If you do. Apologize.
Find the humor in the cycles of teaching. The end of the year can be challenging for kids because there are more opportunities for classroom management strategies to fall by the way side…more field trips, more assemblies, more school fairs, etc.
This sounds harsh, but try to accept that you’re not perfect, nor are parents and nor are students. Cultivate the “we’re in this together approach” and just try to improve.
SHOW NOTES
Sign up for Smart Classroom Management Newsletter
Easy Classroom Management Tips for Creating Your Dream Class with Michael Linsin: AME 012
Smart Classroom Management Interview with Tips to Help you Succeed
YOUR TURN:
What is your strategy for dealing with parents in the classroom? Do you have a Classroom Management Plan that holds students accountable?
Share your experiences below:
HERE ARE A FEW THINSG TO KEEP IN MIND:
1. Parent’s Perspective
- Allow parents to explain or vent or say what they have to say. Don’t feed or antagonize the situation by explaining what was really going on. They don’t want to hear it…at least not yet.
- You never know what kind of day this person has had. It feels horrible to be on the wrong end of someone’s bad day so allowing space for the person to vent is the fastest way to resolution.
- Accept responsibility and suggest a solution.
- Tell her you understand how hard it can be to understand what goes on inside a classroom. Students are very different with parents than with teachers. And kids are different with one teacher than another.
2. Student’s Perspective
- All students want to be good. They want to learn. They want to come to class. No kid wants to go to class with a grumpy teacher or a teacher who is always mad at them. Every kid wants to be liked or talked to in a kind, encouraging way. Every kid wants to be the kid the teacher likes….BUT only if they like and trust you.
- Building trust through a very consistent classroom management plan is the most important thing you can do.
- Building trust with consistent behavior is the second most important thing to do.
- Always ask yourself…how can I be more consistent with this child?
- Sometimes the answer is to be very firm with expectations. Some kids just push the boundaries. If they do, they must deal with the consequences. You need to be able to explain in crystal clear terms why and what the student did that broke the rules.
3. Teacher’s Perspective
- Look for the golden nuggets (or piece of truth) inside every negative comments or criticism
- Accept that you may get it wrong. If you do. Apologize.
- Find the humor in the cycles of teaching. The end of the year can be challenging for kids because there are more opportunities for classroom management strategies to fall by the way side…more field trips, more assemblies, more school fairs, etc.
- This sounds harsh, but try to accept that you’re not perfect, nor are parents and nor are students. Cultivate the “we’re in this together approach” and just try to improve.
SHOW NOTES
Sign up for Smart Classroom Management Newsletter
Easy Classroom Management Tips for Creating Your Dream Class with Michael Linsin: AME 012
Smart Classroom Management Interview with Tips to Help you Succeed
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
Yes, the day has come!
After a long time deciding if, I finally said when.
Thank you SO much for your encouragement, show suggestions and help getting Art Made Easy off the ground.
Many of you were so pumped about this show but confessed that you had no idea what a podcast was. I love you guys for your unbridled enthusiasm.
Here’s a quick definition of a podcast & what to expect from Art Made Easy:
A podcast is a free radio show. The host (me!) interviews guests or talks about a favorite subject. You get to listen through your computer, laptop or smart phone. I like to listen to my favorite podcasts in my car during long travel days or on my walks via set of ear buds and my iPhone.
You can subscribe to the show via iTunes and Stitcher radio. The benefit is that your free podcast ap on your iPhone will automatically be updated with all the podcast episodes from any show you subscribe to.
Go ahead and give it a try!
To listen on your laptop or computer, just click the play button in the colored box below.
To listen via iTunes, click on the “play in iTunes” banner and click subscribe.
And now onto the show…
For my first show, I wanted to tell you my story of how I became an art teacher. We all have different paths and this one is mine. I’ll share advice to those who are just starting out as an art teacher and some of my best tips for teaching art to kids.
This episode is for anyone who thinks they may not have the qualifications to be an art teacher. Teaching art to kids doesn’t have to happen inside a classroom. You can teach art at home, at a summer camp and even as a volunteer (like I did).
If you are an art teacher just beginning your journey, I’m sharing my best advice to get you through that tough first year. Download my free handout and keep it in your teacher planner and refer to it when you have a tough day.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
SHOW NOTES:
Drawing With Children: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages (Lab Series)
National Art Convention
CreativeLive- free online classes
Art Teachers Facebook Group
Website: Painted Paper in the Art Room (Laura Lohmann)
Website: Art of Education
Book: Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers
PS – Please leave a review on iTunes!
Art Made Easy is now live on iTunes! Subscribing to the show and leaving an honest review really helps the show gain visibility and allows me to tailor the show to your needs.
YOUR TURN:
What is your strategy for dealing with parents in the classroom? Do you have a Classroom Management Plan that holds students accountable?
Share your experiences below:
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Hi Patty! I love all your podcasts, but this one really hit home for me! You are spot on with your teaching philosophy, especially when it comes to dealing with the negative things that come up. I found that after pouring my heart and soul into my teaching (and certainly not for the money, haha!), it was really hard to deal with those occasional criticisms from parents. I discovered that teaching can sometimes require you to have a “thick skin” and mine was not as thick as I thought! I’ve grown a lot over the years, and come to the same conclusions you have. It’s all about having humility and a teachable spirit, empathy for both your students and their parents, and choosing the right attitude. Thanks for sharing your approach to a topic that isn’t often covered and can actually make or break a teacher. And congrats on all your accomplishments! You are an inspiration to so many!!
Cheryl! Thank you so so much. So fun to see you pop on here. I love what you do and really appreciate your kind words. So glad the podcast is helpful. We’re all in this together!
Cheryl: Thank you for the podcasts you present to me, my students who are preparing as preschool assistants, I put them as an example since they must learn to give answers, at the right time. regards