040 – Parent-Teacher Conferences: Mastering Your Mindset of Steel

We’ve all been there. Giving 100% to our careers. And wanting to be the best teachers we can be for our students. But then a parent says something. Something that makes you think, “Do you even have any cluuue how hard I’m working over here?!” (And if they don’t have a teacher in their family, they probably DON’T have a clue.) But the Bottom Line is… They’re not happy with what you’re doing. And they think they might have a “better idea” of how you should be doing your job. So they tell you exactly what they think. And you’re left with a verbal dagger in your heart. It can happen completely out of the blue – and for just a hot minute. Or it can feel like you’re enduring an eternity of complaints all year long. Some parents may have the purest of intentions. And others may be lacking in the social graces department. But whether you’re conversing with parents in formal conferences, meetings, emails, or phone calls… Developing a Mindset of Steel is an essential Teacher Survival Skill when it comes to parent communications. Not taking negative feedback personally is easier said than done. So let’s unpack exactly how to do it. In this episode, you’ll learn: The hidden reality of what’s reeeally going on in parents’ heads during parent-teacher conferences. How to reframe the way you view parents’ negative feedback about your teaching and actions – for good – so you won’t be bothered by any more stinging comments. How to protect your mental and emotional energy during parent-teacher conferences (or any other communications with parents throughout the year). Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom? Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/ Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash