Study Guide to Dealing with Difficult Parents

Todd Whitaker is a professor of educational leadership at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. He is a leading presenter in the field of education and has written more than 30 books, including the national best seller, What Great Teachers Do Differently. Douglas J. Fiore is Dean of the Dwight Schar College of Education at Ashland University and is the author of numerous books, including the popular textbook School-Community Relations, Fourth Edition.

• IntroductionPart One1. Dealing with Difficult Parents: An Overview2. Who Are These Guys?: Describing Today’s ParentsKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup Activities38 Years of Teaching Fifth GradeIt’s Not What You Do, It’s How You Do ItApplication3. What’s Wrong with These Parents Anyhow?Key ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesTitles Really Make A Difference!Creating Convenient ModelsApplicationPart Two4. Building Credibility: Everyone Wants to Associate with a WinnerKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesAll the News That’s Fit to PrintCalling All ParentsApplication5. Taking Your Classroom SocialKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesAccentuate the Positive!Things to ConsiderApplication6. Positive Communication with Parents: An Ounce of Prevention7. Listen, Learn, and CultivateKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesCreating a Positive Referral ProgramA Welcoming Environmental AuditApplicationPart Three8. Initiating Contact with parentsKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesActing It OutCommunicating with ParentsApplication9. Never Let ‘Em See You Sweat10. What if the Parent is Right?Key ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesThe Sorry ActorsATTENTIONApplication11. The Best Way to Get in the Last Word…12. Do You Feel Defensive? If So, Something is WrongKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesCircle of Bad NewsA Sign of the TimesApplication13. Delivering Bad NewsKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesThe Legal EagleA Bad News TriangleApplication14. But I Did Get a Good Deal: Examining the Car SalesmanKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesI Really Did Get a Good DealActing It OutApplication15. What if They Use the F Word – Fair?16. Focus on the FutureKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesWorking with Mr. JohnsonUsing the "F" WordApplication17. Understanding Parent InvolvementKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesComparing ParentsDealing with Difficult ParentsApplication18. Increasing Parent Involvement at School19. Increasing Parent Involvement at HomeKey ConceptsDiscussion QuestionsJournal PromptGroup ActivitiesClarifying Your Parent CoreHOME workApplication