I think facilitator is a key role. I find myself having to facilitate communication all the time. It bothers me because I really feel it is the educator's job to fac. communication with the family, not the other way around.
I know in my education training I took a whole course in communication and facilitation. The point of the course was that families are dealing with so many emotions, from fear to pride, from hope to defeat, etc, that it is difficult for them to deal with the tensions of controversial conversations.
In my son's class there is one other child who seems to be gifted. He's definitely a natural at competition with my son. Their personalities clash, but they do feed off of each other. I think Mite does't feel so very alone when the other kid is there.
