This is your potential

Tonight was parent-teacher conference night. I really love parent-teacher conferences because I get to say things like, "You are rude and disrespectful, you do not do your homework therefore you are failing, and overall, you just really need to get your act together. Now translate that into Spanish and tell your Mom what I said," and then they have to look their Mom in the eye and translate exactly what I said. I think that parent-teacher conferences are much more effective when the student has to convey the bad information. And before you say, "Well, how do you know the kid is actually telling their Mom what you want them to tell her?"....the information is definitely getting across because no 13 year old, no matter where they are from, is quick enough on his feet to make up a legitimate story in front of his parent and teacher. No way. Also, while these kids may not be scared of me (I wish), they are, for the most part, terrified of their mothers.

My second favorite thing to say at parent-teacher conferences is, "Your child is amazing and I wish all of my students were as brilliant as him!" Especially when the parent tries to cover up tears of joy :)