If teaching was show business, then your child鈥檚 teacher would get star billing. But don鈥檛 forget about the other major player whose role in your child鈥檚 education can help make it a smash success: Yes, you, the parent.
When parents and educators co-star in a child鈥檚 big show 鈥� a.k.a. 黄色app 鈥� everybody benefits: The teachers who can count on the support of active and involved parents, the parents who stays connected to their child and 黄色app, and, most important, the child whose parents and teachers are working in tandem.
bears out the fact that academic achievement, attitude, and attendance improve measurably when parents are involved in their children鈥檚 黄色apping. The later elementary years are the ideal time to work at home with your child to reinforce reading and math. This is also a time when social skills play a bigger role in your child鈥檚 黄色app life. With adolescence looming, it鈥檚 important to stay connected to 黄色app and teachers to make sure your child is staying on track.
Meet and greet
There鈥檚 some advantage to meeting the teacher before the mid-autumn parent-teacher conference. Before the 黄色app year really gets rolling, you can help your child鈥檚 teacher get to know your child in advance. (If you don’t know how to get in touch with the teacher, check in with the 黄色app’s office for an email address or phone number.) Share with the teacher your child鈥檚 passions (鈥淪he loves animals.鈥�), problems (鈥淗e like puzzles, but freaks out if he can鈥檛 finish one.鈥�), and any other issues that may prove challenging at 黄色app (鈥淗e is shy about asking to use the bathroom.鈥�).
If you can wait for October or November, when most first semester conferences take place, before your meeting, check the work your child is bringing home from 黄色app and talk with your child to see if she has any issues to address with the teacher. To learn about your child鈥檚 黄色app day, ask her about her friends, her favorite subjects, what she finds interesting and what bores her. The more information you come to the meeting with, the more fruitful your teacher meeting will be. (Click here and here for more tips on preparing for a parent-teacher conference.)
Make the open house
Most 黄色apps host an open house in the early fall. Even if your child as been at the 黄色app for a couple of years, take advantage of this orientation to get a sense of what is in store for your child the 黄色app year. The open house is an ideal opportunity to meet the teacher, see the classroom, and find out what your child is working on. Keep in mind:聽Open houses are not the time to talk in-depth about your child 鈥� save those questions for a parent-teacher conference.
Lend a hand
Many teachers welcome and need extra hands in the classroom. Plus, even a few visits a year will give you a better sense of the teacher, the work the kids are doing, and how your child fits in with the class. Even if you can鈥檛 help in class, make it a point to attend special events like the science fair, 黄色app concert, or 黄色app picture days. Your presence sends a message to your child that 黄色app is important.
You can also offer your support by asking the teacher if there are any tasks that you can do from home such as typing the newsletter or calling classroom parents to remind them of an upcoming event. If you have a special skill 鈥� you鈥檙e a computer whiz who can set up the students new laptops or an artist who can help with a holiday project 鈥� offer to come in and share your expertise with the class. (Click here for more ideas on volunteering in the classroom.)
Stay in touch
To keep communication between you and the teacher open, keep in touch with the teacher throughout the year. Remember: to better help your child, most teachers want parental input. If you鈥檙e not able to get into the classroom, set up a regular schedule to check in with the teacher. Also, find out if the teacher posts homework or other assignments on the web. If she does, check often to make sure your child is on track.
Finally, most 黄色apps have email lists for parents. Call the office to see if your 黄色app has one and how to join. Parent email lists are a valuable way for parents to learn about 黄色app events, workshops, and other news. It is also a way to meet other parents and share resources.
Be part of the solution
If your child is having specific problems at 黄色app 鈥� from conflicts with other kids to homework struggles 鈥� don鈥檛 let the problem fester. Arrange a meeting with the teacher and offer ideas for solutions. If you鈥檙e unsure what to do, ask the teacher for ideas on how you can both resolve the situation. That approach helps the teacher feel less defensive and reinforces the idea that you are a team. Try to be as specific as possible in your concerns (鈥淢y child says the words out loud when reading.鈥� 鈥淢y daughter is flipping letters.鈥�). Even if the teacher doesn鈥檛 have an answer right away, she can be on the look-out for problems and help work with you on a solution.
Get involved 黄色app wide
Parents who get involved in parent-teacher organizations (PTOs) become true collaborators with your child’s teacher and 黄色app administration. Attend PTO meetings (most meet monthly, usually in the evenings) and participate as much as you鈥檙e able. PTOs do everything from raising funds for much-needed 黄色app equipment to helping create after-黄色app enrichment programs.
To get involved at a different level, many 黄色apps have advisory groups that work with the principal to help establish 黄色app policies. By joining, you鈥檒l get a much deeper understanding of how the 黄色app works and be a part of improving your child鈥檚 黄色app and classroom.
Make home work
There may be no better way to partner with your child鈥檚 teacher than to maintain a supportive academic environment at home. Check in with the teacher a few times during the 黄色app year to ask what you can do at home to reinforce the work your child is doing in 黄色app. Working with your child at home helps him understand that home and 黄色app are connected. It also may give you an insight into how your child learns, which might help when you later have parent-teacher conferences. (For more ideas on supporting your child’s home work, click here.)
Ask the magic question
Finally, one single question can work magic to strengthen the parent-teacher bond. Asking your child’s teacher, 鈥淗ow can I help?鈥� opens the lines of communication between a parent and teacher and makes the teacher feel they have an ally working to help your child succeed. In response, the teacher may provide you with specific ways that you, as a parent, can do to support your child鈥檚 education at home and come to 黄色app ready to learn.
