Innovative Teachers, Innovative Parents?

Following on from my "One Word" post/resolution to be more open, here is one of my current stumbles I have been thinking about over the Winter break.

​I've recently had a parent say to me "when I was in school, and I am sure when you were in school..." and proceed to tell me the way I learned when I was in school. Not only was this parent making assumptions about my past, but they were also making assumptions that these practices are still relevant for their child.

I just saw this post on Twitter posted by @daveschmittou which made me think about it even more.

"Are you preparing students for their futures or for your past?"

​To be fair, even as innovative, forward thinking educators we don't really know the answer to this question. Or at least don't definitely know the "how" of it. All we can do is try new strategies and hope our students are on the right path. However, I also think that a good follow up question is how to get parents fully on board and understanding this way of thinking? Most of the parents in my class are fully on board with the changes I am making and the ways I am pushing their children to be more responsible and independent. It is the 1-2 parents who are having trouble seeing eye to eye with how my strategies are supporting their child's future. I sit, I listen, I brainstorm... I can only do what I know how to do, and keep trying.

How are you, as an innovative educator, ensuring that your parents are on board with the changes you/your school are making? How do they get over their hurdles of "when I was in school..." or "I learned like this..." etc? How do you help them see if they really are preparing their children for their futures?

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