Techniques to Develop Strong Parent/Teacher Relationship
Throughout their lives, children spend much of their days with their teachers. Teachers and children build an important bond throughout their school year and kids often look up to their teachers as mentors and confidantes. As parents, it is important for you to have a strong parent/teacher relationship so you can help your child succeed as well as monitor their progress and development. Here are some techniques to help develop this relationship:
1) Communication:
communicate with your child’s teacher early on and throughout the school year. This can be done in a friendly email introducing yourself and telling them a little bit about your child. You can let the teacher know that you would appreciate receiving feedback on your child’s progress. This will show the teacher from the outset that you want to play a part in your child’s education. See the link below for more details and tips Don’t wait until there is a problem to get to know the teacher. (http://earlylearningnetwork.unl.edu/2018/08/29/parent-teacher-relationships/).
2) Let the teacher know if there is something going on at home:
teachers have no way of knowing personal issues going on in the child’s life. Perhaps the child’s parents are going through a divorce and the child is reacting by acting out at school. If you are a parent, the best thing to do is to get ahead of the problem and let the child’s teacher know. The teacher can recommend strategies for your child to better cope with this difficult situation and will be more understanding if he or she sees certain behaviors exhibited.
3) Attend meetings:
(during Covid, this can be done on Zoom) about your child’s efforts, behaviors, interests, strengths and challenges. Do not simply ask about their grades but inquire as to how they are doing socially and developmentally as well. You can discuss what goals you and your child hope to accomplish during the year, for example, how they hope to advance in their reading (http://earlylearningnetwork.unl.edu/2018/08/29/parent-teacher-relationships/)
4) Ask the teacher for help:
if your child is struggling to understand a concept and you are having a hard time explaining it to them or helping them with their homework, reach out to the teacher for tactics. Perhaps your child needs some one-on-one time with their teacher in the form of tutoring or perhaps your teacher can provide your child with extra exercises to practice on at home.
5) Ask your child about their day and talk to them about what they learned in school.
Sometimes your child will divulge to you that they are struggling with a concept and you can collaborate with the teacher to help them. Take an interest in their classroom life and ask them to show you their work. This will instill a sense of pride in them and will also help get to the root of any issues they might be having.
Also Read: COVID-19: Back to School Tips
6) Read everything that gets sent home:
go through your child’s backpack with them so you can see what tasks and homework they have to accomplish. A young forgetful child might forget about their homework so instill the habit that when they come home, they should empty their bag and see what they have to work on for the night.
7) Make sure your child has a consistent routine:
when your children come home from school, set aside time for them to work on their homework and put technology away. You can speak with your child’s teachers about strategies to ensure that your child is completing their work efficiently.
8) Respect your teachers:
Especially during Covid, be respectful of teachers and try to understand that this is an unprecedented time for them as well. With mask wearing and social distancing, teachers are more overwhelmed than ever and it might take them some time to adapt the way they normally conduct themselves in a classroom. Voice your concerns if you are worried about your child’s health and safety, but remember that we are all doing the best we can. Speak politely when you have tips for teachers and try not to be overly critical.
At the end of the day, our children are lucky to have so many amazing role models in the form of their teachers and their parents or parental figures. Do not try to complete with the teacher but rather collaborate and bounce ideas off of one another.
For any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us!