The Tough Ones

It is so hard to conference with parents when their child has a lot of need for improvement. I want to encourage parents to value learning and help their kids at home, but I struggle with communicating this without making parents feel like they are not doing enough. I want to have high expectations for their participation in the education of their child, yet I have faith that they are doing the best they can and the best they know how. I know that circumstances for some of the families I work with differ greatly from the circumstances I know and relate to. I want to be helpful and encouraging, but I think there is a fine line between being supportive and being preachy. I don't know from personal experience, but it must be so hard to be a parent. I hope they value the time we have to meet and understand that I have their children's best interests at heart!

Tomorrow is a LONG day of conferences followed by research class and all I can say is that I cannot wait for Friday afternoon at 4:30!!!