A Parent Is Unhappy With Their Child’s Progress: How to Address the Concern
A parent is unhappy with the progress of her child after a series of questions were answered incorrectly by the student while completing problems outside of tutoring sessions. These problems covered material and concepts that had not yet been covered in the tutoring sessions, and the student was unfamiliar with them. The material and concepts have now been covered, and the student understands how to approach the problems. Despite this, the parent’s response was quite negative. How should you proceed to assure the parent that the tutoring sessions are working, and to address their concern about their child’s struggles with new material?
Key Approaches to Address the Parent’s Concerns
The main ways to address this situation include:
- Communicating realistic expectations: Speak to the parent about the expected time frame for noticeable results.
- Clarifying curriculum expectations: Explain that the student cannot know 100% of the curriculum right away. This requires specific preparation and time.
- Reinforcing the need for review: Successful tutoring may involve reviewing previous concepts before moving on to new material.
- Setting clear goals: Establishing objectives to demonstrate the positive impact of the tuition can help keep progress on track.
- Maintaining open communication: Keeping the lines of communication open with the parent to discuss progress and lesson feedback.
Understanding Why Parents May Be Unhappy
When a parent expresses dissatisfaction with their child’s progress, it could be due to several factors. One common reason is that parents often form expectations that results will be achieved much quicker than is realistically possible. This can lead to frustration when those results don’t materialize within the expected time frame. It’s essential to communicate with the parent about how long it might take to see significant improvements. This dialogue will help prevent misunderstandings and maintain a good relationship with the parent. 🗣️
Achieving solid results takes time. Depending on the student’s current performance in school, improvements may take anywhere from a month to several months. Ensure that the parent understands that true understanding and lasting improvements in math require time and consistent effort.
The Importance of Building Foundations
Effective teaching often involves prioritizing which areas to focus on first. It’s usually best to teach mathematics from the ground up. This involves revisiting the basics of the topic area before tackling more advanced material. By doing so, the student can understand the key concepts that are necessary to solve more challenging problems later on. This method also gives the student a chance to grasp the foundational concepts again, reinforcing their understanding. 💡
You’ll want to explain to the parent that this approach is designed to foster lasting improvements in the student’s performance. While this method will undoubtedly take time, it will lead to better results in the long run.
Setting Clear Objectives to Measure Success
Planning clear objectives and goals for the student is an excellent way to measure the success of the tutoring sessions. Both the student and the parent can see the effect of the tutoring by setting milestones to work towards. This also helps organize the lessons and ensures that time is not wasted. Establishing these goals early on helps shape the parent’s understanding of how long it will take to see improvements from the tuition. 🎯
Maintaining Open Communication
Finally, maintaining an open line of communication with the parent is essential. Whether it’s a quick chat before or after class, a text, or a brief phone call, regular updates on the student’s progress show the parent that you genuinely care about their child’s success. This also helps the parent to understand how the tuition process works and keeps them informed about the progress being made. Clear communication minimizes the risk of disappointment and ensures that expectations remain realistic throughout the tutoring sessions.
With open communication, you can help the parent feel confident in the progress being made and keep their expectations in check, ultimately strengthening the parent-tutor relationship.
