The parent teacher relationship has been around since school began many decades ago. An excellent relationship with your child’s teacher is essential as a parent.
Research shows that having a good parent-teacher relationship will help your child to have a better school experience that year.
As a parent, there are many things that you can do to ensure a good relationship with your child’s teacher.
Here are four ways to have the best parent-teacher relationship this year.
#1 Share What May Be Helpful
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. Because you know your child best, it’s crucial for you to interact with your child’s teacher.
Share any information about your child that you think may be helpful for the teacher to know.
For example, it would be beneficial for the teacher to know if your child is going through a difficult time at home. Sharing this type of information will help the teacher understand your child better and provide them with the necessary support.
Teachers always appreciate parents giving information about their children at the beginning of the school year. As a teacher, I love hearing about my students because it helps me to get an idea of their:
- Personality
- Likes
- Dislikes
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
Usually, parents have the opportunity to meet their child’s teacher on Meet the Teacher Day at the beginning of the school year. To find out more about your school district’s Meet the Teacher day, check out their school’s website.
#2 Communicate Regularly
Technology has given most parents access to their student’s teachers daily by email, telephone call, or a communication app.
Most teachers provide communication methods on Meet the Teacher Day or the first day of school.
Popular Communication Apps
These excellent communication tools provide direct communication to your child’s teachers. However, as a parent, please remember that most teachers have limited availability to respond in the evenings or early mornings.
It is important to ensure that you are responsive to the teacher. You should return phone calls and emails promptly, usually within 24 hours.
Reasons a Teacher May Communicate
Teachers love when parents are involved in their child’s educational career. As a teacher, there are times when I would communicate with a parent. Some of the reasons that you may receive communication from a teacher are:
- When your child has been a good friend to others. We love sharing positive events during the week and shining a light on kids who are good friends.
- Your child is doing well in school. We love sharing praise when a student is doing well in their classroom. Usually, teachers will communicate through a phone call, a note, or their weekly folders.
- When we would like to collaborate toward a common goal. As a teacher, we often can’t do everything ourselves. I sometimes have to reach out to parents if a student is having a difficult time, and I can’t figure out how to help them.
#3 Keep Track of Your Child’s Academic Progress
Teachers love when parents are involved in their child’s education. As a parent, you can access your child’s academic performance through a weekly folder or an online portal similar to Virtuoso.
If you feel that your child is struggling with something, please communicate your concerns. Sharing concerns is a way that teachers can better maintain a great relationship with you as a parent.
Try to attend parent-teacher conferences. This is when you can sit with your child’s teacher and talk about how they are doing in school.
You can ask questions and get to know the teacher more personally. It is also an excellent time to let the teacher know your expectations for your child.
If you cannot make it, be sure to reschedule rather than simply skipping the meeting.
#4 Be Supportive of the Teacher
This doesn’t mean that you always agree with everything the teacher does, but it does mean maintaining a positive attitude and respecting their decisions.
Keep an open mind. Be willing to listen to what the teacher has to say about your child, even if it is something that you do not want to hear. Try to see things from the teacher’s perspective.
Be positive when speaking about the teacher to your child. This will help create a positive relationship from the start.
Keep in mind that the teacher is working with many other students in addition to your child, so they may not be able to give your child the individual attention you feel they need.
How Do You Plan to Have the Best Parent Teacher Relationship this Year?
As a parent, you have the best knowledge of your child, and we love working with parents. Teamwork makes all the difference to a child’s education when it comes to parent teacher relationships.
Building a solid parent-teacher relationship takes effort from both parties. By working together, you can ensure that your child has a successful year at school.
How will you work with your child’s teacher this year? Share in the comments below.
Here are More Resources You Might Be Interested In
- The Ultimate Guide to a Better Bedtime Routine for Kids
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- How to Help Your Special Needs Child Transition to a New School
- 5 Vision Board Ideas for Kids to Visualize Their Goals
- Special Education Resource YouTube Channel
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