Seven insider tips for getting good results when communicating with your child's teacher

School had hardly started when I realized that my child was having some issues that should be addressed with the teacher.  Parent teacher conferences were weeks away, but I was sure my child and I weren't going to last that long, let alone an entire school year!  Even as a former teacher I was nervous about approaching the situation with her teacher.

I that knew I didn't have the whole picture.  My child is extremely honest, but can't necessarily understand the complicated dynamics of the classroom.

To make matters more difficult, the teacher can't tell me everything that she knows.  The other children in the classroom deserve a certain amount of privacy. I have to trust her judgment, which is scary.

Because I love my child, I pushed aside my fears. and wrote a friendly, professional e-mail asking for a conference and giving her the basic nature of my concerns.

Do you need to initiate communication with your child's teacher? Here are my top tips for getting good results.

1. Communicate early.  The earlier a problem is addressed, the more easily it can be resolved.

2.  Be positive.  Assume the best about every one in involved, including the teacher.  If the teacher feels blamed she will be more likely to go on the defensive. If they seem to have done something wrong, or ignored you, assume that it was a mistake.  Not only can teaching be hectic, teachers sometimes get sick and have family emergencies.

When I was a teacher, I knew which parents would respond well to extra information about their students,and made sure they got it. You want to be one of those parents.

3. Use your best language and dress your best.  This isn't about impressing the teacher with how much you can spend.  Believe me teachers are the last people to be impressed with money.   Dressing professionally and proofreading your e-mail shows the teacher that
this interaction  is important to you.

Don't all parents put high value on interactions with their children's teachers? Well, now that you mention it, they don't.  In fact, there are probably parents in your school who see everything in the opposite way you do.  Which brings us to my next tip.

4. Start by telling the teacher what you know, and what your goal is. Otherwise, he doesn't know.

"My child is upset,  and says it is because so and so stole his eraser.  I want him to feel safe at school."

This is different than, "Why did you let so steal my child's eraser?" Or,

"I don't think you are addressing property rights correctly in the
classroom."   Or.

"What's wrong with so and so's family?" Or,

 "I think my child should make an A this year."  If your goal is an "A", that's fine.  It's just different than feeling happy at school, and the teacher needs to know where this conversation is headed if she is going to help you

Whatever you do, don't tell the teacher how to handle his classroom. You are interested in one of fifteen, or maybe two hundred, children for whom he is responsible.  He has to balance the whole.  If you think you know how to be a great teacher, I'm sure there is a
principal near you who would love to give you an opportunity.

You also won't get good results by informing the teacher of what happens if you don't get what you want.  Maybe your child's teacher is performing a social experiment in allowing the strongest to rule the classroom, and thinks your child has no real right to using an
eraser. The appropriate thing to do  is to approach a principal. Saying, "Give me what I want or I'm turning you into your boss," is still not going to get you good results.  If it is what you need to do, just do it.  Broadcasting makes you into a bully, and we all know how we feel about bullies.

5.  After you have told the teacher what you know, and what your goal is, stop talking. Assume she heard you the first time. Resist the urge to talk about yourself.  The teacher is there for your child.  Teachers are usually sympathetic people, but they aren't typically trained to help adults through their issues. 

Give the teacher a chance to process and then respond.  She will often reply with information you did not previously have. My child's teacher did!  She should tell you what she is able to do to improve the situation.

6.  Verbalize what you are going to do to address the issue.  If you don't know what to do, ask the teacher.  He may have some great ideas!

7. Say Thank you.  Say it as you are leaving.  Write a follow up e-mail, and say it again.  The truth is that parent teacher conferences usually translate into unpaid over time for the teacher. Even if you aren't happy with the results, be grateful for the teacher's time.

Fortunately, most teachers aren't in the business to run social experiments, or even to make money.  They are in it for the welfare of the children.  This is clearly the case with my child's teacher.  She was surprised at the concerns I raised, but presented a great strategy for addressing the problem.  We have stayed in touch, and four weeks after that conference, I think my child and I are both going to survive this school year, maybe even thrive.







Today the Bloggers for Public Education Team is bringing our best resources for communicating with your child's school.  Check out what my team mates have to say!

10 Practical Ways to Communicate With Your Child's Teacher from Books and Giggles

Keeping the Lines of Communication Open with Your Child's Teacher from Creative Family Fun

Keeping an Open Communication with Teachers – Free Teacher Note Printable from 3 Dinosaurs

The How and Why of Communicating with Your Child's Teacher the Resourceful Mama







You might also be interested in my previous post,  10 Ways to be an Awesome Public School Mom