We’re just reaching the halfway point of summer, but it’s not too late to get your game plan together for the start of the school year. First thing’s first, it’s time to meet the teacher.
Let’s go in chronological order of where you typically encounter your child’s teacher and how you can make the best possible impression.
Orientation/Scheduling
Many schools, particularly in the younger grades, have a meet-and-greet the week before school starts where the kids can see their classrooms and the parents can meet the teacher(s) for the first time.
This is not the time for a long, in-depth discussion. This may strike you as common sense, but you won’t believe how many parents want to take this opportunity to explain every one of their kid’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s also not the time for any talk about the curriculum. That’s for open house.
The best impression? Be friendly and approachable. Offer to give the teacher any help they need. Ask them if they need any supplies for the room. And then leave.
Open House
Depending on the school, this happens sometime during the first month of school. The parents visit the classroom(s) again to hear the teacher give a talk about what the kids will be learning this year, what their particularly policies are, and how to get in touch with them.
First, if possible, don’t bring the child. It sort of gives them a spoiler view of the whole year and might make them (and the teacher) apprehensive.
Second, this is also not the time for a long discussion. If it’s middle or high school, the teacher will have another group of parents arriving soon. If it’s elementary, everyone wants to go home. If you want to have a real discussion with the teacher about your child, leave your contact information (and take theirs) and ask about setting up a conference.
Also, make sure your attendance was noted so the teacher has a record of you being an involved parent.
Conference(s)
Now we’re talking. The misconception is that you have to wait for your child to be in trouble to have a conference, or that only the teacher can request one. You can request one at any time. The beginning of the year is actually really helpful if you think the teacher needs to be aware of certain traits of your child (like a slight learning disability, AD/HD, or a special family situation).
Again, don’t bring the child. It is really difficult and awkward to have a frank discussion about a student if the student is sitting in the group. Come up with a plan of action and then bring the child in.
Second, although you certainly have the right to disagree with the teacher, no educator makes up falsehoods about a child’s behavior in class. Their time is simply too crunched to have conferences that aren’t necessary. If you don’t observe a certain behavior at home but the teacher has brought you in because it happens in class, try to come up with reasons why it only happens at school and then work together to rectify the situation.
Finally, and this applies to every setting: make it a point of approaching the teacher as a team member. You all want the same thing out of the school year—for the child to be successful. Working together can go a long way toward making that happen.