Tips for parents
Create a smooth takeoff each day. Give your child a hug before they venture out the door and you head to work. Look them in the eye, and tell them how proud you are of them. Your child’s self-confidence and security will help them do well both in school and in life. Happy children ready to learn also help teachers a great deal and help foster an environment conducive to learning.
Be a partner with your child’s teacher. Learn who your child’s teacher is and the best ways to reach them. Break the ice by sending the teacher an email or personal note at the start of the school year, and be sure to attend your school’s open house to meet the teacher. Do this as soon as possible so if issues do arise, a relationship is already formed. When you need to speak to him or her in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child. Make a point never to criticize your child’s teacher in front of your child.
Understand expectations. Ask the teacher whether they think your child is giving his best effort in class and whether they have noticed any significant changes in your child’s behavior or grades. Make sure you understand the teacher’s policy for assignments, projects and making up missed work.
Let your child develop their own relationship with the teacher. This is one of the first relationships with an adult your child may have outside the family unit. If you take a back seat and let the relationship develop without much interference, a special bond may develop. For young children, the teacher-child relationship is a love relationship, and it may be their first love relationship after their parents. This can be pretty powerful and wonderful.
Help out. The strained economy is having an impact on schools. Many school systems have increased class size, reduced the number of paraprofessionals, and cut the supply budget. If you have the time, offer to help.
Remember how you liked (or disliked) your teachers. Your experience at school is likely to affect your attitude toward your child’s teacher. It’s important to leave your own baggage at the door, so you can talk about your child with the teacher and not about you.
Tips for teachers
Smile when you see parents. Most parents and guardians only occasionally interact with teachers, so make sure at least 90 percent of encounters with them are positive, warm and friendly.
Learn their names. Also, learn how they like to be addressed and how to pronounce them correctly.
Declare your intention. Tell them you want to partner with them, that you appreciate their support and look forward to working together.
Lead with good news. Give positive praise first when calling or meeting with them to discuss a concern. Every kid has something good about him/her. Find it and share it, then share your concern.
Communicate often and in various forms. Provide information about what’s going on in your class (weekly would be ideal): what students are learning, what they’ve accomplished, what you’re excited about, what they’re excited about and the learning and growth you’re seeing. Suggest things that they might ask the child about: “Ask them to tell you about what they learned last week about meal worms,” or “Ask them to read you the haiku they wrote.”
Listen. Really listen. They know a whole lot about their kid.
Sources: Edutopia.com; PTA.org; PBS.org; Psychcentral.com
