It’s a little strange how talking to your child’s teacher or other school officials can take you back in time and give you the same disconcerted feeling you may have gotten as a child. What’s more, you want the teacher to know you are a concerned and involved parent without being that annoying parent that believes their child could never do anything wrong, and that it’s the teacher’s fault when bad scores or bad behavior occurs in the classroom.
That isn’t to say that all teachers are infallible, but taking the right approach when discussing issues ranging from grades to field trips can help to form a good relationship with the people guiding your child’s education on a day-to-day basis. It will help to promote good communication between yourself and the staff. It may also provide insight into any issues your child may be having in school.
Attend School Functions
We may not all have time to join the PTA, but attending school functions will help you to get to know the staff at your child’s school. It is also a good opportunity to make yourself known to your child’s teachers and other parents. Getting to know these people and the children in class with your child can often make learning about your child’s educational environment easier ,while encouraging communication between teachers and parents alike.
This is also a good way to make it known when you will be available to help out in your child’s school or classroom. Many schools now encourage parent participation ,and most schools are always in need of parent volunteers. These opportunities will give you a chance to build a relationship with staff and become familiar with how the school is run. It also lets you get a closer look at your child’s day-to-day performance in school.
Open House and Parent Teacher Meetings
When it comes time to discuss homework, grades and classroom policies, there is no better time than Open House Night at school and Parent Teacher Conferences. These regularly scheduled events are designed so that you are able to openly discuss any issues you or your child may have with particular subjects or activities that could be causing problems with your child’s overall performance at school.
Teachers want your child to get the most out of their class, and you want to make sure your child is being prepared to further their education in the best way possible. Coming to these functions with a list of concerns and questions written down will help to assure you that you are able to cover all topics without forgetting something important.
If you are working and are unable to attend, don’t worry. Because teachers want your input and want to let you know what is going on with your child, other arrangements can often be made. This can include e-mail correspondence, written letters for communication or planned phone calls. Usually teachers will be flexible for parents who want to participate but whose schedules come into conflict with planned school events.
More Pressing Concerns
If your child is having personal issues with school such as failing grades, constant missing homework or bullying then it might be time to contact a counselor or Dean. In these instances it is vital that you keep a running record of discussions and be open to continuous communication with the staff at your child’s school.
It may take a little more time and effort but it’s always worth it when it comes to your child’s educational career. Sometimes something as simple as having your child fill out a daily planner for each class can help improve homework performance and your availability to come to class on occasion for a volunteer day will give you the opportunity to see firsthand the causes of more serious internal conflicts that may be occurring between your child and other students.
Be Present
Even if you aren’t available to attend every function or receive every phone call, the important thing is to make yourself known to the school’s staff. Let them know you are an involved parent who is willing to put forth some extra effort when it comes to your child’s school performance. And always go into any situation with your child’s school with an open mind. Assumptions can kill a conversation with educators before it even begins.