How to Positively Influence Your Child's Negative Teacher

If your child is worried about having a particular teacher for the upcoming school year, or is developing a dislike for a teacher, there are some ways to have a positive influence on the teacher. Schools have communication channels set up for parents and teachers to communicate and cooperate in giving children the best possible education. Using these established channels will let your child's teacher know that you have an interest in your child's education.

Instructions

    • 1

      Attend school functions that are focused on parent/teacher communication. Schools usually hold a back-to-school event at the beginning of the school year. This is a good time to pick up a syllabus from each teacher, as well as have a few pleasant words with each. Collect phone numbers and email addresses for each if they are not already included on the syllabus. Learn about planned communication, such as notes home, day planners or online grading tools that can be accessed from home using appropriate passwords.

    • 2

      Read daily communication and respond promptly. Notes home can include expected homework assignments, upcoming school events, notes of praise or disciplinary notes. Some schools require parental signatures on day planners. If a week or two passes, and you don't see any material from school, that is a good time to check with your child's instructors in a friendly way. When it comes to kids and school, no news is not necessarily good news. Important messages can sometimes get "lost" between school and home.

    • 3

      Send positive communication to the instructor using email or notes, or exchange a few pleasant words when picking up your child. Keep your messages brief and to the point. Teachers are very busy people, and are often overwhelmed with the amount of paperwork and general communication they receive daily, in addition to planning lessons and grading student work. Your note or word of praise could be a bright spot in a teacher's day, and shows that you consider her a partner in your child's education.

    • 4

      Attend scheduled parent teacher conferences. If for some reason you are not available at a particular time, let the teacher know as quickly as possible, and reschedule at a time that works for both of you. Parent/teacher conferences are the perfect time to find out about grades, behavior, extra-curricular activities and special opportunities. They are also a good time to voice your concerns for your child. When you attend conferences promptly and maintain open communication about scheduling them, you send the teacher the message that you are interested in your child's well-being and respect her professional expertise. You also model responsible adult behavior for your child.

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