Unit 4: Case Study

Return to: Mini-course Main Page | Unit 1: Parenting Styles You May Encounter | Unit 2: Why Are Parents Not Involved? | Unit 3: Methods to Get Parents Involved

Read through the following scenario about a parent named Sarah. As you read, consider the following:

What type of parenting style is this? What impact is this parenting style likely to have on Sarah's children? What interventions would you, as a teacher of Sarah's children, use to help involve Sarah?

Scenario

The parent we are going to discuss is named Sarah. Sarah has two school-aged children. Sarah is a single working mother with a boyfriend. Sarah keeps her apartment rent paid on time and keeps food on the table by working as a waitress full time at the town diner. Sarah loves her children and hates to see them upset. She tries to be a good mother, and she believes she is because she does everything she can to keep her kids well fed and happy. She picks up extra shifts whenever possible to provide for her family because she is the only one with an income. Sarah hated having rules as a child so she does not have any rules in her house for her kids, believing this is what will allow them to be the happiest. Even if she did have rules, she is not there to enforce them anyway.

Sarah's kids are independent, despite only being in middle school. They put themselves to bed and rarely need help with schoolwork, which Sarah views as great because then she has more quality time to spend with her boyfriend when she is home. If the kids do need help with a project, they go to the neighbor's house where the high school student helps them. Sarah feels this is best anyway, because helping with math and projects is overwhelming to her after working multiple shifts in a row and having to take care of the house by herself.

Sarah is proud of how independent her children are at a young age. They can cook themselves simple meals and pick out their own outfits for school. The kids do not ask much of their mother. Although they do fairly well in school, there is room for improvement. Although Sarah knows education is important, she doesn't push the issue because worst come to worst, they can always make ends meet the same way she does. There will always be jobs where no education is needed.

Sarah is not available to help with her children's schoolwork because or work, emotional absence, or both. She has not been able to meet her children's teachers yet this year. She does have a cell phone and email address with calling and internet capabilities.

Reflect

What type of parenting style is this that Sarah displays? What impact is this parenting style likely to have on Sarah's children? What interventions would you, as a teacher of Sarah's children, use to help involve Sarah? Use the methods discussed in Unit 3. Feel free to add any of your own tried and true methods. Record your solution in Unit 3 Google Doc, page 2.