How To Talk to Your Child’s Teacher

Besides us, parents, teachers are the most important people in our children’s childhood and teenage hood. They have a direct insight into some of the aspects of our children’s lives that are unavailable to us. That is why we need to collaborate with teachers, and not only in the times of a crisis but also on a regular basis, on things regarding our children’s education. And knowing how to talk to your child’s teacher can make this process much easier.

I have had ups and downs with the teachers I was meeting and, over the years, I’ve learned a few essentials that help me communicate with them efficiently.

So, here are some general guidelines on how to talk to your child’s teacher.

Establish communication channels.

Take the teacher’s contact info AND leave them your number and email address. You can never know when such things may be needed. Most teachers will give you their contact on the first parent-teacher meeting. Some teacher insist on keeping contact info private. You can ask them for some alternative ways of communication, such as the school number or email. And some might have direct channels through social media or school-specific apps.

Ask for preferred ways of communication

While some teachers prefer email communication, some of them prefer instant communication, phone calls or texts. And, hey, we are in the 21^st century, and many teachers use Viber, WhatsApp and similar apps for communication with parents. Don’t forget to ask your child’s teacher which option works best for them or else you might end up waiting for days for their reply. In order to know how to talk to your child’s teacher, you have to know how to reach them.

Attend all the Parent-Teacher meetings

Even if your child has perfect grades and doesn’t make any troubles, you should still attend all the PT meetings you can. It’s about getting an insight into the class atmosphere, problems and challenges, as well as an insight into the ongoing stuff such as field trips or proms.

Plus, it’s a good thing when the teacher remembers you as someone who regularly engages in the PT activities. That’s the “soft power” way of building parent-teacher trust, and a key part of knowing how to talk to your child’s teacher.

Attend school’s open events

While most parents will visit the school for the PT meetings, not all of them will come to see the class musical, science fair or sports games. These events are an opportunity for casual conversation with the teachers. Plus, it is always good when the teacher remembers you as someone who is genuinely interested in your child’s and the school’s special activities.

Read all those boring emails – and hit the reply button!

Yeah, there is a ton of those emails in every parent’s inbox, and many of them fail to see that’s another opportunity to maintain good communication with the teachers.

Regardless of the content of the email, make sure to say “thank you for the info” – they have put in some effort in writing it and thank you is the least each parent can say. Teachers find it easier to build sincere communication with those parents who show appreciation for their work.

Read weekly or monthly student’s folders

Many schools send student’s folders for the parents to review – they include a variety of content, from grades to curriculum, from event announcements to notes on your child’s behavior.

Many parents simply ignore these folders, which is, if you ask me, a huge mistake. You cannot expect your child’s teacher to be open and communicative if you are ignoring their efforts to introduce you to your child’s educational development. It doesn’t take much time and the effects are really important.

Engage in special parent-teacher groups

You can always volunteer on organizing school events or discussing other important issues.

It is not only a way to communicate with your child’s teacher on a higher level but also a great opportunity to contribute to a higher standard of education and other activities in your child’s school.

However, this activity is sometimes very time-consuming, so be ready to face many schedule-related challenges.

What to avoid in communication with teachers?

One of the common mistakes parents make is trying to become friends with their child’s teachers. There should always be a professional distance between you.

Another common mistake is trying to bribe them with presents. That’s simply unnecessary and sometimes even offensive.

Finally, some parents try too hard and ask teachers questions almost on a daily basis. Ask only meaningful and important questions, minding that teachers also have other kids and parents, as well as their private lives. We all need to set some boundaries and respect their time.

What are your experiences in communication with your child’s teachers? Do you have any tips on how to increase the quality of such relationships? Go ahead, share them with us in the comments!