Building Bridges

Communicate and connect with your child’s teacher

- Janeen Lewis

Do you feel intimidated when you think of talking with your child’s teacher? What if your child complains about problems with his or her teacher? What do you do then?

I’m a parent and a teacher, so I’ve been on both sides of the desk. Here are some tips to help you communicate and connect with your child’s teacher so that all involved can have an amazing school year.

Meet and Greet the Teacher

Teachers like to meet parents at the beginning of the school year so that if a problem does occur, a teacher’s first encounter with a parent isn’t a call about misbehavior or academic struggles. If your school hosts a back-to-school event in the days before school starts, make it a priority to attend. Introduce yourself and show your support for the teacher. ere likely will be several parents waiting to meet the teacher, so you may not be able to have a lengthy discussion, but making this initial contact helps break the ice.

Be Involved

One of the best ways to get to know your child’s teacher is to be involved in the school and classroom. When school starts, let the teacher know if you can volunteer. Because the beginning of school is a busy time for teachers, wait the first couple of weeks until the class is settled in, and then contact the teacher and ask “How can I help?”