Advice

We received an email today from a parent asking how their child could improve their grades. This student is easily distracted in class, only wants to talk to her friends, and as far as I can tell, does as little work as possible. When responding to the email, my mentor said that he was going to give me a great piece of advice which I would use for many years.The reply:


_______ needs to take a more serious approach to his/her studies. His/her attention in class is inconsistent and he/she is often concerned with socializing more than the material being presented. Insert a positive comment about the student.


I have commented before about the skill which teachers posses regarding the way they can politely tell parents that their students are not meeting expectations. This is a very valuable skill which I hope to acquire quickly!