Communicating with your Child's Teacher

Parent's need to be as active in the education of their children as the people who teach them. Unless you homeschool your child, you can't be in the classroom with him all day, so the primary responsibility belongs to the teacher. But keeping in touch with the teacher is vital. Having his perspective on your child's learning process is a vital tool to ensuring your child gets what he needs to succeed in school. Here are some tips for establishing and maintaining good communication with your child's teacher.

Make Contact

Get in touch with the teacher during within the first two weeks of school. Learn about the homework policy, study expectations and any opportunities for how you might become involved in the life of the classroom. Get recommendations for learning activities you can do at home. Be sure the teacher knows the best way to reach you and how you can most easily contact him.

Communicate

Use a notebook, carried to and from school by your child, to communicate with his teachers.

Ask Questions

Come up with a list of questions to ask the teacher at the very first parent/teacher conference. Ask about what your child should be learning, where he's strong and where he needs work. Find out what to make of test results and whether your child is completing his assignments as expected.

Give Your Child his Say

Be sure to ask your child how she thinks she is doing in school. Find out what she thinks of her teacher, what she likes and doesn't like. You need to be impartial and understand that although the teacher is in charge, your child may have legitimate difficulties dealing with him. If possible, arrange to meet with your child and the teacher together.

Learning Environment

It's important to learn about how your child's school handles different learning styles. Ask about additional resources, tutoring, and any programs that might be of use to a child. Pay attention to what your child needs, understand that the school she is in may not be able to provide it and that you might be able to implement appropriate changes if you know who to talk to.

Clear communication with your child's teacher can smooth out many unnecessary bumps in your child's education. It can prevent misunderstanding and it keeps you informed about the daily life of your child's classroom. You are just as important to his education as his teacher is. Even if you can't be present, you can still be directly involved.