254 The Explosive Childhis parent(s) in a Plan B discussion. Here’s how it might
sound with a parent:
Teacher (Empathy, Proactive Plan B): Ms. May, I
understand that homework has been very difficult
lately.
Mother: Homework has been very difficult for a very
long time. You’re the first teacher Jimmy’s had
who’s expressed any interest in what we go
through with homework. We spend several hours
fighting over homework every weeknight.
Teacher: I’m sorry about that. But let’s see if we can
come up with a plan so it’s not so terrible
anymore.
Mother: You can’t imagine how nice that would be.
Teacher: Now, I know Jimmy has a lot of trouble with
writing. Safe to assume that’s part of the problem
with homework?
Mother: Writing’s a problem... and there are some
assignments that he just doesn’t seem to
understand at all.
Teacher: Can you give me a sense about which
assignments seem to be hard for him to
understand?
Mother: Science. Definitely science. Sometimes
social studies. Math he gets done in about ten
minutes.