Diversity comes in many shapes and sizes

When I hear the word diversity, my mind automatically thinks of ethnicity or socioeconomic status.  While these factors are present among my students, the biggest form of diversity I see is parent involvement and support.  Both areas take on a variety of forms.

Parent involvement.
This ranges from the "has no idea what's going on in their child's life" to "hover parent".  In my opinion, both extremes are detrimental to the student's growth and learning.  The first tells the student that school is not important.  The second places a suffocating amount of pressure on the student to the point of rebellion or resentment.  Sadly, many of my students fall in one of these two extremes.  It is rare to find a student somewhere in the middle.  A student who is held responsible for their work but also given encouragement and guidance along the way.

Parent support.
This ranges from full to none.  Thankfully I don't see many students who are completely void of parental support.  But what does "full" parent support look like?  I feel old saying this but, when I was in school, parents supported the teacher and their child.  Now I often feel that parents support their child over the teacher.  It's not that this is entirely bad, but I do often see parents who will defend their child no matter what (even if it is ridiculous).  The parents I love to see are the ones who hold their student to high expectations while providing them with the love and support to figure out who they are and how to be successful.  This type of parent is not the norm.

My questions.
How can I support all my students without showing favoritism?  Is it possible to do without totally draining myself emotionally, mentally, and physically?  What are ways that I can more clearly convey to my students that I'm here, wanting to encourage and support them not only in math but in becoming successful young adults?

The next step.
I by no means have figured this out.  Outside of school, one thing I do to keep parents in the loop is send out frequent email updates.  I also keep my website and homework calendar up to date.  Parents are able to check their student's grade but I will also contact parents if I am concerned about their student's performance.  This has worked pretty well so far but there are still students who slip through the cracks.
In school, I try to make my classroom a safe place but also a place that expects students to do their best.  I am a warm and encouraging person by nature.  However, my students know they can't get away with slacking off.  I've tried to create a balance between high expectations for their work and actions and supporting the students as people.  I can't totally fill in the gaps left by the parents, but I'm going to try my hardest!

It's All a Balancing Act

Balance.  This is something I try to find in my teaching.  Balance between being nice and being strict.  Balance between building foundations and challenging the limits of student thinking.  Balance between predictable routine and thinking outside the box.  Balance between direct instruction and activity-based learning.

With all the changes that are coming with Common Core and Smarter Balanced Assessments, I feel the tension of this balance even more.  What can I do to prepare my students for a new (and yet to be determined) standardized assessment?  How can I help shape them into more critical thinkers?  How does that affect the way I teach, the homework I give, and the expectations I have for my students?  I want my classroom to be one that exposes them to technology and is a place where high cognitive demand is expected and achieved.

As a math department this year, we have been revising the 7th grade curriculum to include such things.  Some ideas have been successful, and others have not.  It is my goal this semester to try to assess and clean up our work in attempts at improving the curriculum and increase academic rigor for next year.

Being the first time through, I think we often are operating in "survival mode"...sometimes only a day ahead of the students.  It is difficult to find time to stop and assess the successes and areas of improvement in what we just completed because the pressures of tomorrow are creeping in.  And there it is again...balance!