A great way to feel in control of a difficult conversation is to prepare ahead of time so that your nerves or emotions don’t get the better of you. Take a few minutes to complete the following steps:

1. Jot down the key points, any information that supports your position on the matter, and any questions you may have.
2. Print out, or otherwise make easily accessible, any student work or emails you may want to refer to during the conversation.
3. Familiarise yourself with any school policies that may apply to the staff or students involved.
   

Preparing what you want to say, knowing what other issues might arise, and having available the relevant supporting documents will remove some of the stress you can feel in these situations.