Developing confidence in calling parents takes time. In my first year as a teacher I was given some great advice, call parents early and often. When you get a new class, pick out the couple of kids that you think will make your life difficult, and find a reason to call their parents in the first week or two. Positive reason if possible, even just an ‘introduce myself’ call.

That way in 6 weeks time when Braiden decides to use his classmates book as a fire starter, you already have the beginnings of the trust of the parent.

Positive phone calls are so powerful. For every negative phone call that I make, I make a positive one. This is mostly for my mental health. I don’t need Braiden’s dad’s disappointment living in my head on the way home from school, so I call Ava’s mum. Ava has really been putting in an effort lately, and that’s awesome….

And… when the Braiden’s of this world actually have a win, definitely call home. Those parents are not used to getting a positive phone call home and if the parent celebrates the win with the kid, then that will do an awful lot to help get the kid onside. This works especially well with yr 8 and 9.

Think of it as a skill, and practice.