3 Reasons You Should Get To Know Your Kid's Teachers

It should come as no surprise to parents that taking an active role in your child’s education is beneficial to their academic success. Getting involved in your child’s education can mean many things, but one of the ways that can have a big impact is getting to know your child’s teacher. There are many reasons you should get to know your kid’s teachers, and there are a lot of ways to accomplish that goal to truly make a difference in your child’s education. After all, this is a person they spend hours with each week, so building a good relationship is important for both your child and you.

If you’ve been wondering “How do I connect with my child’s teacher?”, read on for our tips and advice.

How Parental Involvement Benefits A Child’s Education
No matter how you go about getting involved in your child's education, there are some solid benefits to doing so. The primary ways that your involvement can benefit your child’s education are:

• Increased success in academics – Studies have shown that kids whose parents are involved in their education have higher achievements in school, regardless of their background, the level of education attained by the parents, or their socioeconomic status. Students with involved parents are more likely to turn in their assignments on time, have higher grades, and score higher on assessments. Higher attendance is also observed in these students.
• Better attitude – When parents get involved in their kid’s schooling, the student tends to have a better attitude about school and is more motivated to attend. Basically, the involvement of parents in school changes how their child views their education, increasing their aspirations and motivation along the way.
• Improved behavior – A positive attitude toward school starts at home. Parents who are actively involved can foster this kind of attitude toward learning and school in their children, who are then better behaved in school.

As we mentioned above, one of the easiest ways to get involved is to get to know your child’s teacher. Let’s take a closer look at how best to do this.

What Questions Should I Ask My Child’s Teacher?
To kick the school year off right, you should try to get to know your child’s teacher as well as their approach to the classroom. You can do this by asking a series of relevant questions, such as:

• How do you assess progress? In most cases, this will be done through schoolwork, teacher observations, and classroom participation. Ask the teacher how your child will be assessed so that you are familiar with the process and will know better what to expect.
• How do you view homework? Teachers tend to have strong feelings about homework, so make sure to ask them. This can lead to bigger conversations about the way they teach in general.
• What important concepts will my child learn this year? This question can give you a better understanding of what will be focused on throughout the coming school year.
• What if my child isn’t challenged enough? Parents know what their children are capable of, and sometimes a child may simply not find the classroom as challenging as they need. If this is the case, make sure to ask your child about any types of enrichment activities or gifted programs that may be offered.
• How can I best communicate with you? Communication with the teacher is essential, so ask them from day one about the best way to connect with them.

What Expectations Should I Have For My Child’s Teacher?
Another way to establish a rapport with your child’s teacher and get involved is to make sure you have realistic expectations of them. You should be able to trust that the teacher can provide a safe environment for your child in the classroom and treat all their students with fairness. You should also expect them to recognize any special talents or gifts your child has, along with being able to focus on their more positive qualities.

They should assign a reasonable amount of homework for your child’s age, follow the school rules and policies, maintain order in the classroom, contact you if an issue arises, be professional, and return communications with you in a timely manner.

You may want to have this discussion with your child’s teacher and find out what they think you should be able to expect from them. It’s a fair question, and the answer can save you from trouble or misunderstanding later in the year.

How Do You Build Good Relationships With Teachers?
There are several things a parent can do to build a strong relationship with the teachers in their child’s life. You can:

• Meet them in person – A face-to-face meeting can work to establish a good relationship with your child’s teachers early on. This is a great opportunity for you to let them know what you think your child needs to be successful in the classroom.
• Have a plan for communication – It’s important to keep the lines of communication open between yourself and your child’s teachers to promote a strong relationship. They should have all of your information in case they need to contact you, and they should know how you prefer to get updates on your child’s progress.
• Keep the teacher in the loop – Change can be hard for some kids, so make sure to let your teacher know if anything is going on in your child’s life that may impact them in the classroom.

A teacher is your ally, not your enemy! And if you take the time to establish a relationship with them and get involved in your kid’s schooling, your child will come out as the winner.

Featured image by Adam Winger on Unsplash