When a senior presents you with a college list filled with
too many reach schools, or a student wants to be allowed into an AP class
he didn’t qualify to take, or a disappointed student seeks your advice about
how to get her French teacher to raise her grade in the class, you might have to
give a response your student won’t like.
But you can soften the blow by praising good behavior.
“I like hearing you say that you want to go to a college
where you’ll be in class with great students.”“A lot of the students I meet don’t want to get anywhere
near AP Euro because they’ve heard Mr. Jacobsen is too hard. I’m impressed that you’re not afraid to
challenge yourself.”“Usually, a student sends her parents in to argue about why
a grade should be changed. Thank you for
meeting with me yourself. I like that
you’re willing to fight your own battles.”
Students still may not like the answer, but praising the right
behavior increases the likelihood that your student will come away from the
interaction with a better perspective and a willingness to duplicate the good
behavior.