EDUCATION

The three not-so-little words that best describe effective parent-teacher relations are communication, communication, communication. The more teachers know about your child, the better they will be able to motivate, stimulate and educate her. And who knows your child better than you?

Communication works both ways, however. Many schools keep parents in the loop through weekly newsletters or regular emails. For example, Toronto’s Bedford Park adminstrators send home a “report card” for parents to fill out with their opinions about the school.

Try these time-tested methods to forge a great partnership with your child’s teacher:
• Introduce yourself to your child’s teacher at the beginning of the term. It’s always easier to work with someone when you can put a face to the name.

• Try to attend the regularly scheduled parent-teacher meetings. Frank discussions about your child’s behaviour, learning needs and progress can go a long way to solving problems before they grow. If English isn’t your first language, try arranging with the school board to have a translator present during the meeting.

• When your child faces problems at school, remember that you and the teacher are on the same side. At your meeting, take a non-adversarial approach. Accentuate the positive ways the teacher is helping your child, then present your concern. Come to the meeting with your own possible solutions to the problem.

• Consider letting your child tag along to a parent-teacher meeting (you may want to give the teacher a heads-up). Seeing you and the teacher co-operate will have a positive impact on how he views his education. He can also express his opinion and feel more responsible for his own learning.

• Keep tabs with the school office to find out when newsletters are sent home. Read each one — even if it’s soggy with apple juice — and take note of any time-sensitive happenings.

• Sign your child’s tests to show the teacher you have seen them. Got questions about the exam or your child’s progress? Write a note on the test asking the teacher to call you.

• Let the teacher know you support her through a quick word of thanks — a hand- written note is even better.

• A big part of school life is learning how to follow routines and meet responsibilities. You can help by creating routines at home and trying to stick to them — a regular time and place to do homework, a regular meal schedule and bedtime.

• Read to your child. With its link to school success, reading is perhaps the single most powerful way you can team up with the teacher.

Originally published in Today's Parent, September 2005