Contacting parents about a student's shortcomings can be a stressful experience, especially over email. In print, so many words and phrases can be taken out of context, which can cause tempers to flare. Over my years of experience in the classroom, I have learned that I should just stick to the facts when emailing a parent. By sticking to objective, rather than subjective words and phrases, I have found that parents are less likely to take my words out of context and just generally be more agreeable.
What follows is a parent contact I had just this week regarding a student's failing grade in my class. The trimester ends next week, so parents at my school are on high alert for any grades that might prevent their child from passing or earning honor roll. Prior to this initial email from the child's parent, I had given the 8th grade student a printout of her assignments so that she could start to remedy the situation. I had the students work on her missing/failing assignments after school for an hour on two separate occasions as well. Despite all my interventions, the student was still behind and failing my class. Fortunately, her parent's original note to me provided some insight into the student's situation at home and why she might be failing my class:
Email #1
After reading the parent's email to me about her child, I realized that the student had a valid excuse for performing so poorly in my class. Harford Country is at least a 30-45 minute commute to our school. The parent also explained that she had spoken to her daughter about making up her work due to her absences because of the move.
Email #2
Email #3
In her final note, the parent lets me know that she will follow up with her student at home. The parent appears to have a better understanding on what is missing and what needs to be turned in. She also seems a lot calmer than in the first contact with me. Before March 8th, I will email the parent again so she is aware of what assignments the student turned in and the student's final grade in my class.
If I could 'do over' anything about this particular conversation with this parent, I would have included a Power School screenshot of the child's current grades in my class. I think that parents are sometimes overwhelmed with the number of apps we use to track their child's work. In my class alone we use Google Classroom, Power School, Classdojo, and Signup Genius. If I had included a screenshot of her child's grades, then I could have reduced the stress on this parent because she wouldn't have to open yet another app and I could have directly referenced the assignments pictured for her. I am really fortunate to have parents that are so understanding and willing to help their student succeed, and if I can make my emails easier to understand we can all be more successful in helping our students succeed.
What follows is a parent contact I had just this week regarding a student's failing grade in my class. The trimester ends next week, so parents at my school are on high alert for any grades that might prevent their child from passing or earning honor roll. Prior to this initial email from the child's parent, I had given the 8th grade student a printout of her assignments so that she could start to remedy the situation. I had the students work on her missing/failing assignments after school for an hour on two separate occasions as well. Despite all my interventions, the student was still behind and failing my class. Fortunately, her parent's original note to me provided some insight into the student's situation at home and why she might be failing my class:
Email #1
 |
| Parent's original contact with me regarding her daughter's grade in my class. |
Email #2
 |
| My response to the parent regarding her child's performance in my class. |
In my response, I reiterated to the parent that I had been working with her child over the past weeks to get the late/missing/absent work completed and turned in. I also alerted the parent to the date in which grades have to be finalized, so she and the student would be aware of the final deadline for any make up work.
Email #3
 |
| Final response from parent in the conversation. |
In her final note, the parent lets me know that she will follow up with her student at home. The parent appears to have a better understanding on what is missing and what needs to be turned in. She also seems a lot calmer than in the first contact with me. Before March 8th, I will email the parent again so she is aware of what assignments the student turned in and the student's final grade in my class.
If I could 'do over' anything about this particular conversation with this parent, I would have included a Power School screenshot of the child's current grades in my class. I think that parents are sometimes overwhelmed with the number of apps we use to track their child's work. In my class alone we use Google Classroom, Power School, Classdojo, and Signup Genius. If I had included a screenshot of her child's grades, then I could have reduced the stress on this parent because she wouldn't have to open yet another app and I could have directly referenced the assignments pictured for her. I am really fortunate to have parents that are so understanding and willing to help their student succeed, and if I can make my emails easier to understand we can all be more successful in helping our students succeed.
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