Case
Parent Knows It All

I had a parent who felt sure she knew exactly what her child should be learning in Pre-K. She would come to me on a weekly basis asking questions and trying to determine why her child was or wasn't learning "this". I gave her a print out of the Georgia Pre-K standards and explained how we used the information to plan. I explained that Pre-K focuses on giving students space to grow socially and learn through experience. This was difficult for her to understand. She still thought the child should be learning more and that I was not preparing him properly for Kindergarten. Needless to say it was a very stressful year. How do you reassure these parents?

Posted on: 03/15/15 | Views: 982
Solution #1
Top Solution
In this situation, it sounds like you did the right thing in showing her the standards and explaining the purpose of the pre-k year. I might also provide her with supplemental resources that she can do with her child at home if she would like him to be exposed to other material.
22 0
Solution #2
I also teach pre-kindergarten, and I use my formative and informative assessments to create assignments that are based on my students' needs. This way, the parents can see that their child is completing tasks that are on his/her learning level. However, if I do have a child that has mastered all of the pre-kindergarten standards, I meet with my principal and discuss the option of accelerating this child onto kindergarten material in my classroom. My principal is very supportive of this, and I have done it with many of my students.
5 0
Solution #3
I think it was great that you gave her the standards, but I think it might be a good idea to evaluate the student and see if he/she needs to be moved up to kindergarten or if they are behind so that she as a parent can make a decision.

I don't think this is a very good response as this doesn't really have as much to do with the student as it does the parent.

5 0
Solution #4
I think showing her the standards was a great solution. If the child is successful with mastering all standards, you could provide extension activities that address the skills the parent wanted to cover.
3 0
Solution #5
It sounds like this parent is nervous about her child's performance. I would be reassuring to her that her child is getting all of the correct instruction. I would also have done exactly what you did by showing her the standards and the curriculum. I always suggest that they can supplement at home. I, too have a lot of pushy parents. They are so annoying!!
0 1
Solution #6
In this situation I would tackle this with as much kindness as possible and give back as much information as the parent is giving. Each week send home the packet of objectives and the standards. This may be a little extra work and some extra copies but it would be worth it in the end when the parent get tired of getting so much paper work. And if it progress I would suggest to the parent to go to the county and fight them on the subject.
0 8