Parenting

One of the most important things that will help your child have a successful year at school is keeping an open line of communication with their teacher. You want them to respond to your questions and concerns, plus you want them to come to you whenever they have a concern about your child. Good communication with your child’s teacher is always a win-win situation.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always come easy. You’re busy. Teachers are busy. Sometimes you just can’t connect. Wires get crossed. Notes get crumpled up and left at the bottom of a backpack.

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All is not lost. Here are some simple tips to keep that line of communication open:

1. Be a loyal backpack checker. The backpack is where you’ll find so much important stuff: homework, permission slips, newsletters, special dates, notes from the teacher… well, you get the picture. This is an easy way for the teacher to tell you important information, so do your part and check every day. We are very fortunate that our school helps our kids learn organization skills. They usually provide a special folder and planner every year to help with communication. If your school doesn’t provide something, get a pocket folder that your child can keep in their backpack. This will help keep homework and notes from getting squished the the bottom.

2. Find out your teacher’s preferred means of communication. We have a teacher this year who is fantastic with electronic communication. We get text reminders and electronic newsletters. Email is the perfect way to communicate. Email is so often the preferred form of communication, but it’s not for everyone. Ask and find out how the teacher prefers you to contact them. When at all possible, use that way to contact them.

3. Be succinct. In this day and age, we’re all busy. Keep that in mind when dealing with your child’s teacher. Be brief and to the point in your conversations with the teacher. They love your child and know you have all sorts of great stories to tell. But, if you only have a 15 minute meeting and need to address a concern, by all means get to the meat of the matter first.

4. Listen. This one can be a tough one. It’s so hard to hear anything negative about our children. (I can be so guilty about this!) But, try your best to keep an open mind and remind yourself that your child’s teacher really does care about them and their success in school. Listen, then work together. Your child can only benefit from this approach.

Hopefully, you’ve had good experiences through the years with teachers. (We certainly have.) Keep these tips in mind and keep those lines of communication open.

The Bloggers for Public Education are talking communication this month. Check out the rest of the posts below: 

10 Practical Ways to Communicate With Your Child’s Teacher  at Books and Giggles
Seven Insider Tips for Getting Good Results When Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher at Thriving STEM
Keeping an Open Communication with Teachers – Free Teacher Note Printable at 3 Dinosaurs
The How and Why of Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher at The Resourceful Mama
Teachers Are From Mars, Parents Are From Venus at Planet Smarty Pants

Dear Teacher,

I know we haven’t met yet. I’d love to sit down and talk with you, but I don’t even know your name. You’re about to become a very important person in my child’s life, which in turn will make you a very important person in my life. We’ve been very lucky thus far to have had the privilege of some amazing public school teachers. They’ve shown wisdom, compassion, and love to all their students. My girls have learned so much and grow each and every year. I hope this year will be no different.

You’re very busy at the beginning of the year. I get that. We never really have much time to chat before that first day of class. But, there’s just a few things I’d love for you to know before you start teaching my daughter.

We are a team. We have the same end goal in mind. There’s just one difference, my only focus is on my child’s education. You, on the other hand, have more than 20 other kids to focus on. What’s best for my child may not be the best for every one else. I get that. So, let’s keep the lines of communication open. Let me know if my daughter needs extra help mastering a skill or extra encouragement on a social issue. I’ll step up and I’ll get her through. We’re in this together.

I am also my child’s teacher. Yeah, I know I don’t have an education degree like you do. I don’t know teaching methods and I don’t know much at all about classroom management. But I do know a thing or two about my own child. I know her quirks and her particular learning styles. We like to have fun and we like to learn. I may not do all those cool suggested activities that you send home, but that doesn’t mean we don’t support learning in our house. We just do it in a different way.

I want to help you. I tell you this every year and every year I mean it. I’m not just saying this to be nice. I want to help you and I want to help my daughter’s classmates. Don’t ever be afraid to ask me! I will step in and help to the best of my time and ability. I know you can’t do it all. Please let me carry some of the load. I will sort and staple, file, or even step in and supervise your favorite messy project for the classroom party. I’ve already got the paint-stained jeans ready to wear!

I understand that education today looks much different than the education I received. And, that doesn’t mean one is better than the other. They’re just different. I’m embracing all the differences as they come along and in some cases, learning right along with my daughter. I won’t mock it or post crappy Facebook posts out of frustration. I’ll try to figure it out. And if I come to you with questions, take it in good faith that I’m trying to learn.

You are amazing. I don’t think I could do what you do. It pleases me so much to see you enjoy your job. You love those kids. You care so much about them. Because of that, I can put my trust in you. I know you’ll do a fantastic job and I look forward to the coming year.

Thank you.

I wrote this piece as part of a monthly blog hop in support of public schools. Make sure and visit the rest of the participants.