She believed the only way to help this child was to be kind but firm and make certain he will be held accountable for all missing work. In short, she communicated that she cared about the child and her motives were out of compassion and concern and not anger or revenge. The mother was able to see that the teacher was doing what she, as an educator, believed was right for the child. They agreed to work together more in the future to make certain the student didn't start sliding again. It's also very important to be positive with the parents.
Parents have a much better time listening to negative news if they hear something positive first.
Please don't misunderstand what I am saying. This is the time to openly communicate your concerns and enlist them in your plan to help the child. If you have some major concerns, you have an ethical responsibility as a professional to share your concerns with the parent. Anything less would be dishonest and not in the best interests of the child. Sandwiches You can, however, pick the appropriate time and place to discuss your concern.