Some years back during my active years in the classroom, I had this child whose parent was known to be a handful and teachers didn't look forward to dealing with her at all.  

This meant that finding her child's name on your class list was usually demoralizing for most teachers.

The child on his part was a ball of energy and extra in many ways- homework hardly ever done, hitting and yelling at others using curse words, proud and entitled too.

Of course, all these came in the way of his work both in school and at home, and led to the all year back and forth with his parent who typically expects teachers to do magic.

As I opened my official email a few days before resumption that school year, I was excited to know my new kids , and then as I scan through the document, there it was, his name sitting pretty on my class list.

Right there and then I made up my mind that I will take on the challenge and turn the "lemon" I was thrown into lemonade. And so I created a personalized plan that will help me work with him.

Motivation, peer support, scaffolding accountability, and positive praise and reasonable expectations were my biggest tools. Gradually and surely the result started to manifest.

However, while I had created the right environment for him in my classroom, they couldn't reinforce or replicate this at home and so our outcomes were different , and this frustrated this parent who couldn't see this as her problem.

And then one day, his parent came to school and her challenge was that he was doing well in his class but wasn't doing same at home.

She also had a problem with the fact that he liked me way too much, and wanted me to be firmer or wanted a teacher who is hard enough to make him afraid, so when they threaten the child with their name at home the child shakes

Wow, parents, parents, parents, what do we want ghan? Magic?

Your role can't be substituted. The teacher can influence your child in their way, they can't influence them the way you can.

They won't help you connect with your child, support them at home or make your child honor you. I always remember what my head of school said that day after the parent left that day;

" You have ONE year to influence and deal with this child Ms. MB, but she has her entire life to deal with him. Go and do what you can do for him in the short term."

Read that again dear parents...

When we created the 10x More Learning with Play Techniques Challenge, we had you in mind and want to teach you to support your child like a PRO at home.

We have extended the N3,500 offer to join the challenge for one more week. See details to register now.

Zenith Bank

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Take it or leave it, you are your child's best and most important headteacher can help you make it count .

Cheers to an amazing week ahead.

Marybeth Chima

Author & Child Support Coach

The MentorMum.