Teachers' Tips for Keeping in Touch
How you can connect to your child’s classroom
Make this the best back-to-school season ever
Want to give your child the best experience possible? Team up with her teacher! Don't be discouraged from coming into class because "you're not educated enough" or because you don't feel you have anything to contribute — your child's teacher would love to strengthen the bond between school and home. How do you strengthen that bond? Read on for teachers' tips.
Talk to your child every day about school — it's a great way to find out what he's learning and to identify potential problems that you might need to discuss with his teacher. Third-grade teacher Jeanne Wright of Martha Manson Academy in Gainesville, FL, suggests starting conversation with "What was your favorite activity today?" instead of "How was school today?" in order to avoid vague answers.
Read everything that comes home. Most teachers send daily or weekly newsletters with info about class projects and field trips and requests for parent volunteers. But it's easy for your child to forget to pass them on to you, so check her backpack regularly, and find out if there's a particular day of the week when your teacher sends flyers home. Teachers can also post info on the Web using Scholastic's Class Homepage Tool — if your child's teacher does, check the site regularly.
Communicate. Send a note or schedule a conference at the beginning of the year and let your child's teacher know about anything unusual that's going on in your child's life that might affect him at school — from crises like illness and divorce to less drastic changes, like a grandmother moving in or a mother getting a new job. Mention any medication your child uses, even if he doesn't take it at school. But don't take problems to the principal unless you've already talked to your child's teacher. Nancy Sharoff, an elementary school teacher in Ellenville, NY, explains that the principal won't do anything until she's discussed it with the teacher, so it only "wastes time."
Be a cheerleader! "If you don't cheerlead for your child, who will?" asks Margaret Ford, a 2nd-grade teacher in Providence, RI, who believes that you know more about your child's interests and capabilities than anyone else. Don't just focus on problem areas — let your child's teacher know about his strengths, too — you'll help her to think of new ways to engage him.
Respect the schedule. When there's an emergency, don't hesitate to call the school at any time. For more routine matters, it's smart to find out early in the year when the best times are to contact teachers. Ask at back-to-school night, or send a note or email in the first week. Ford likes parents to "offer a few options" for when she can call them back, rather than demanding immediate attention that she might not be able to give to them.
Spend time in the classroom. Not only are parent volunteers "worth their weight in gold" to teachers like Ford, paying regular visits to the classroom is a great way for you to learn about your child's experience firsthand. Offer to tutor individual students or help with special projects — Ford has parents edit and type books that her children had written. You can also chaperone on field trips, give a talk on your career or your cultural background, or teach the class how to make a special dish or art project.
Bring learning home. "The biggest contribution parents can make" to their children's education, says Susan Barkdoll, a 3rd-grade teacher in San Bernadino, CA, "is to read to their kids." You can also find ways to relate everyday activities at home to concepts your child is learning in school — explain percentages at breakfast using the nutritional info on the back of cereal boxes, or talk about the fat content of skim versus 2% milk. "It validates what the children are doing when parents get involved," adds Barkdoll.
Don't be afraid. Your child's teacher wants to hear from you. "Some teachers are better than others at communicating," says Ford, but almost all of them value parent contributions and concerns. Of all people, teachers understand that there's no such thing as a stupid question, so ask away!
