How to Promote a Strong Relationship with Your Child’s Teacher

The school year is just about upon us and soon your child, and possibly you, will be meeting their new classroom teacher. You will have to communicate as best as possible with this teacher for the next nine months, so you want to get started on the right foot. There is nothing more awkward than having to contact your child’s teacher for the first time in the middle of the year to discuss some issue. Follow these tips on establishing a good relationship with your kid’s teacher this upcoming school year.

Student’s Classroom Supply Day

Almost all school districts have a day right before the school year officially starts now where the students can drop off all their classroom supplies and put them inside their desks in preparation for the first day. This is much better than the alternative where kids used to have to lug around a forty pound backpack on to the bus for every first day of school they encountered. Use this time wisely to not only organize your child’s desk, but introduce yourself to the classroom teacher. Strike up a friendly conversation with them saying how your kid was excited that they had them for their teacher. Go ahead and give them your email address and tell them that you are always ready to help out the class any way you can, whether it is for holiday room parties or watching them on a field trip. This introduction will go a long ways in having open communication between you and the teacher for the next three-fourths of the year.

Don’t Be a Helicopter Parent

In case you have never heard the term before, a helicopter parent is always one that seems to be hovering around. Sometimes they email you a couple times a day or call the office wanting to talk to you for no major reason. Once in awhile they will even show up unannounced in the classroom. Even if this parent has the best intentions, they are essentially making sure the teacher will avoid them as much as possible. You know the story about the boy who cried wolf? Don’t be the parent version of it. Only contact your child’s teacher when it is essential. Sending an email asking if your kid will like the school’s hot lunch for the day is not of high importance for that classroom teacher. Teachers have a lot on their mind with their packed classroom, so try not to hassle them unless you really need to.

Let the Teacher Know You Trust Their Judgement

At some point in the last thirty years or so, parents have stopped trusting their child’s teacher. They will second guess them on grades or how they handle behavior problems. Unfortunately, it is much more common nowadays for a parent to blame the teacher than having a serious talk with their kid. It never used to be this way. So if you are questioning whether your child should have received a B on their assignment instead of a C, just send a short email asking if there is a way for the kid to improve that grade. If you are thinking that keeping your kid out of recess for a day was too harsh of a punishment, your first step should not be contacting the teacher. Sitting your child down and talking to them about it first is the way to go. Let the kid know that if they are saying they did nothing wrong, then you will be contacting their teacher to get the real version of it.

You Are All in It Together

When it comes down to it, your child’s teacher and you want the exact same thing. You both want the kid to succeed in all educational aspects and to become a solid citizen in today’s world. Establishing a relationship with open communication will increase the chance that this could happen.

If you are wondering if you’re adequately prepared for the impending school year, iAchieve offers a free parent presentation to further your readiness. Knowing what to expect from your child and how to handle certain situations before they happen should give you peace of mind.

Written by Ryan Crawley

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