I am continuing to call the parents of my students to make a positive comment or two about them. Usually I say something like, “So-and-so seems to be a great kid and I’m eager to get to know them better.”
Yesterday I left a message with one mother, whose daughter had brought each of her teachers a humongous apple from the orchard where the mom works. She emailed back: “Thanks so much for the thoughtful things you said of M–… She likes having you as a teacher n she thinks your so cool… I hope she continues to well in ur class… And by the way your welcome for the apple…. There will be more to come…”
Another mom of a quite bright student was thrilled; she told me that her daughter dreads school every day. “I think it’s the getting out of bed part,” she said.
Another call, however, to the Russian parents of one shining star, caused grave concern. His mom, who answered the phone, clearly didn’t understand what I was saying; she gave the phone to his dad.
“D– is an excellent student,” I said, “and I’m very glad to have him in class.”
“D– accident?” the dad sounded worried. “In hospital?”
Uh-oh.
I quickly said things that I hoped would sound reassuring, like “very good student” and “no accident,” and then rushed to pull D– from his current class so that he could call home and explain that he was fine.
I listened to his side of the call with his dad and then walked D– back to class.
“My dad said that usually when someone from school calls it’s because something happened,” D– said.
“Not this time,” I told him. “I just wanted to tell him I think you’re an excellent student.”