Customer Reviews

How to Handle Difficult Parents: A Teacher's Survival Guide

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Let's face it. As a teacher with any amount of experience, we've all had them. Not the kids. The parents. Those parents who subtlety work to subterfuge any attempt to move forward with your class. The parent who insists that their child never lies. The parent who believes you and you alone are singling out their child, which is the true cause of their misbehavior. Sound familiar? Good.

As as teacher, we've all been there before. The question always remains, what to do in those situations? Obviously, being completely honest with the parent is never really an option, and subtlety is most often missed by a parent with an agenda. That's where this new book comes in, "How to Handle Difficult Parents: A Teacher's Survival Guide" by Suzanne Capek Tingley.

Both knee slapping funny and filled cover to cover with insightful tips, "How to Handle Difficult Parents" should be a must-read for any teacher, both new and experienced. Tingley, an experienced teacher, principal and administrator herself, approaches these situations similarly. First, she introduces each difficult parent "type" by setting up scenarios that teachers may very easily find themselves in. Through ingenious use of a dialogue, you are suddenly placed in the situation, some of which I have had happen to me in my sixteen years in education. Then, Tingley offers specific suggestions and tips for teachers to follow. Infused with all of this, Tingley practical approach and great sense of humor make reading this book not only informative, but a delight.

For example, Tingley takes on the "Caped Crusader" parent: the one that works to make sure their thoughts and ideas are followed by everyone else. This parent often has issues with curriculum and the choices teachers make. While the parent has every right to complain for their child, they definitely do not have a right to complain for all the children. Tingley offers some great tips about how to fend off this parent, in a polite and congenial manner. All of the tips are practical and professional.

I can envision a teacher, preparing for a conference with a parent, quickly reading a chapter that applies to the parent to "arm themselves" for the conversation ahead. Most often, these difficult parents all work within a certain parameter, that they are advocating on behalf of the best interest in their child. Tingley reminds us, as professionals, our job is to look out for the interests of all the children in the classroom. By using her ideas, teachers will be more empowered for that goal.

I highly recommend "How to Deal with Difficult Parents" to be at least in every school's professional library, if not in every classroom, as a user- friendly guide for teachers to deal with our constituency, and at least to have a good laugh while doing so!

This book provides invaluable insight and advice for new and veteran teachers, administrators and parents. Through the light-hearted examples of some stereotypical parents, opportunities are presented to facilitate the lines of communication between home and school. Each year we lose many potentially outstanding teachers from the stress and demands of today's more transparent educational system. Reading, discussing, and implementing the practical advice from this book will help retain many of these promising professionals. I would highly recommend this book as a must read for any school's new teacher mentoring program. As a parent, I would also recommend reading the book to gain a better understanding of the educator's perspective and how one can work in harmony for the sake of the child.

I bought this book after a very frustrating week of hateful parents and mean administrators. The author writes what all teachers want to say, but then suggests the "politically correct" way to approach the situation. Great book for the first year teacher!

Tingley gives an excellent overview of how educational objectives have evolved from instilling self-esteem to achieving high scores on standardized tests and what a problem that has created in dealing with today's parents. She acknowledges the frustrations teachers feel and frequently complain about, then skillfully uses humor along with sound advice to get beyond the griping and deal with the problems unreasonable parents can present. The book would be very helpful as a basis for role playing sessions for teachers-in-training in order to master the skills of being in control, getting parents on their side and most importantly, handling themselves as professionals. Even veteran teachers could benefit from reflecting on the amusing, yet accurate parent stereotypes Tingley has captured through her years of experience.

As a veteran teacher-librarian, I can say that I have probably met most of the types of parents that Suzanne Tingley highlights in her book. As a parent, I can say that I may have had tendencies toward a few of the actions described. What is remarkable about this book is the down to earth advice for teachers, young and old, in how to diffuse and handle situations that will most definitely occur in the school setting at one time or another. The different scenarios illustrated by the presence of Caped Crusaders, Helicopter Moms, or Uncivil Libertarians are ones in which we have all had a part. Mrs. Tingley has clearly thought about how differently those scenarios could be played out so that a teacher can maintain his or her principles while allowing the parent to retain his or her dignity as the problem is resolved. She does this with humor, but also with a great deal of insight and intelligence. In order for schools to be effective in educating students, teachers and parents must communicate reasonably and civily with each other. This book opens the door to such communication. I am glad the book was recommended to me and I recommend it to all teachers who seek well-reasoned advice or reinforcement in validating responses to difficult situations and parents.

This is a wonderful, humorous guide, which helps teachers anticipate and handle difficult or awkward situations. Into every teacher's life a little rain must fall, and this book shows you how to make something of it that can be positive for everyone involved, teacher, parent, and especially, student. I loved the book's practical approach, including examples of what you might say in a given situation. A wide selection of the most commonly occurring situations are covered in the book. While I can't honestly say I can't wait to try out the tips (boy, are these situations fun!), at least I feel I have more tools at my disposal after having read the book. It's a confidence booster.

This book will fill a useful role on my bookshelf at school. It's a quick resource for dealing with parents, who can be more challenging than the students. I recommend it to you because if you can control the parents, it's much easier to control the students.

Bought the book for a relative who is a teacher. I read it too, and it is excellent. Informative, a virtual tool-box and a must for teachers. The humor is endearing and makes it not only educational but also a delight to read.

This delightful book has such useful analysis and ideas in it. It is easy reading, and the author's suggestions are easy to take.

Tingley is an educator who became an administrator, and she knows her problem parents. She first gives vignettes with the teacher saying what we would REALLY like to say. Then she rewinds the interaction, showing us much more effective things to say.

I appreciate Tingley's compassion for both us teachers and the parents. School has just started again this fall, and I am off to a MUCH better start with a girl in my home room whose "hovering" mom was ready to slug me last year.

The author is able to give lots of interesting and funny examples of what to say (and just as importantly, what not to say) without coming across as a know-it-all. It is also written in a very accessible and readable style - no textbook drudgery here! A great resource for new, and not-so new, teachers.