by Christine Hodge

Whether your child is in a child care center, preschool, or K-12,  you should have open lines of communication with his teacher. Studies show this is an important piece to overall academic success.*

Why is this important, besides the academic benefit?

• Because you are the expert on your child! Especially in his comfortable home environment. You bring information that needs to be shared with anyone that spends a lot of time with him.

  
  

• Talking to her teacher in front of her tells her she is important and her teacher is too. Everyone matters in making her successful.

  
  

• A strong school and home connection puts you both on the same team. When lines of communication are open and used frequently, misunderstandings are less likely to happen. 

Okay so now we know why it’s important, how do you talk to your child’s teacher?

• Reach out early. When your child is first enrolled in a new class, send an email as a way to introduce yourself. Ask what is the best way and time to reach out in the future.

  
  

• Try and communicate on a regular basis - like a once a week check in - but honor their time. You cannot expect your child’s teacher to respond to multiple emails or phone calls from you daily. They are there to teach children first and foremost, so make sure that you are not taking away their focus from what they should be doing.

  
  

• If you have a concern, bring it to the teacher in a calm, clear way. Write down your concerns beforehand so you won’t forget anything. Try not to accuse and remind the teacher that your goal is your child’s success and that you just want to be a united team to achieve that goal.