The Tough Kid: Teachers and Parents as Partners describes a process in which the teacher works with the Tough Kid’s parents (that is, the adult or adults with primary care-taking responsibilities) to identify the problem, collect information about it, and develop a plan to deal with it. Teachers and parents share the common goal of wanting what’s best for the student, so it makes sense to enlist them in helping their child succeed. This approach is especially effective when concerns present themselves at home and at school.
At the heart of The Tough Kid: Teachers and Parents as Partners is a four-stage process called TAPP (Teachers and Parents as Partners). TAPP directs teachers and parents through a sequence of focused meetings in which they:
- Define the Tough Kid’s problem behavior.
- Consider factors that motivate the behavior.
- Agree on strategies to change the challenging behavior.
- Parents and teachers jointly develop a plan and implement it across home and school.
Author Sue Sheridan has taken a process traditionally used by coaches and consultants and presented it as a tool teachers can use to address behavioral, social, and academic problems in their classrooms. In addition to the in-depth explanation of the TAPP process, this book also provides universal suggestions for establishing a positive and cooperative relationship with the parents of all students in the class. Building connections with families early in the school year can yield a number of benefits.
Employing the strategies in this book makes teaching easier if problems arise, and there are benefits for students as well. Research shows that students whose parents participate in their education demonstrate:
- Improved academic performance
- Greater study habits
- More appropriate social skills
- Better attitudes toward school