I start the year with positive notes home. I make sure the first call home is a compliment. I often do a call that is a simple "your child had a great first day/week." Do you have any questions? I ask parents for grace and give grace myself. I let them know we are a team. If you build this up front the difficult conversations are a little easier once you build trust.

I agree with Noraa. Many of our difficult parents only hear from us when there is something negative to tell them. Give parents positive notes or phone calls along with those difficult conversations.

This is a great question! I think this is one of the hardest things to learn and something you really don’t get experience in until you have your own classroom.
First, I always presume positive intent and remember this is their child. Regardless of what is happening, this is someone’s baby.
I try to immediately establish that we have the same goal. We want what is best for their child, but as their parent they are the expert.
If there is an issue, I try to come to them for help as they know their child best and really just involve them in the the process. I think like kids, they just want to be involved.

Second, give yourself time. If an angry parent emails you or calls, give yourself the night to process and think about how to respond. Find a colleague that you can ask for advice or even to proof read your response.
At the beginning of the year, set boundaries with parents and yourself for how communication will work in your classroom.

I will say, after 20+ years, I’ve also learned how to recognize when a situation is unhealthy or unproductive and I will take steps to be professional but not let the parents impact my teaching or well-being. Sometimes you have to know when a situation is beyond our control and when it is time to ask administration for support.

Open communication is key. At the beginning of the year, the expectations are set. Understanding that the parents are hopefully just trying to be their child’s academic advocate and giving grace. Difficult parents just need some special care. I have had a parent who was struggling with discipline and just needed to vent. DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY! It wil be hard but letting the parents know we are on the same team looking out for the child’s best interest.

One of my favorite ways to start the year is by asking parents in a survey what the best parts of their child is and what they expect from me! Parents love their kids and want to brag about them. Also, as others have suggested, a positive phone the first week or so of school can go a long way!