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Parent-Teacher Communication

Ten Ways to Communicate With Teachers

1.    Pick up the phone for occasional 5 to 10 minute "catch-up" conversations between formal parent-teacher conferences.

2.    Make an appointment and have specific questions prepared to discuss with teachers and administrators.

3.    Share your wishes and worries about your child so you and the teacher can compare observations, and set goals and expectations together.

4.    Ask for advice about your child's behavior problems, homework difficulties, and how to reinforce at home what's learned at school.

5.    Respond to report cards by sending the teacher a note if you're pleased with your child's progress or by asking what you can do to help your child improve if the grade or comments are disappointing to you.

6.    Get with the program by attending school conferences, as well as other meetings and programs that allow you to make contact with your child's teacher and other school staff.

7.    Find out what your child's learning and what the academic expectations are each year.

8.    Seek a translator if language differences are preventing good communication between you and a teacher. Your child or another bilingual family member may serve as a translator. Translators can also be found among the school's staff, members of your local PTA, or other community organizers.

9.    Provide information to the teachers about major changes in home circumstances that may affect your children's behavior or performance.

10.  Send thank-you notes to the teacher whenever your child demonstrates new skills or expresses excitement about something that happened in school discussions repeatedly.  

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Ten Ways for Parents to Help Teachers

1.   Create a smooth departure each day. Give your child a hug before he/she heads out the door. Look him/her in the eye, and tell them how proud you are of them. Your child's self-confidence and security will help him/her do well both in school and in life.

2.   Prepare for a happy landing at the end of the day when you reconvene. Create a predictable ritual such as 10–20 minutes listening to your child talk about his day—before you check phone messages, read the mail, or begin dinner. That way you are fully present to listen, and your child has a touchstone he/she can count on between school and home.

3.   Fill your child's lunchbox with healthy snacks and lunches. Have dinner at a reasonable hour and a healthy breakfast. A well-balanced diet maximizes your child's learning potential.

4.   Include calm, peaceful times in your children's afternoons and evenings. Maintain a schedule that allows them to go to school rested, and if they are sick, have a system in place so they are able to stay home.

5.   Remember it's your children's homework, not yours. Create a specific homework space that's clutter-free and quiet. Encourage editing and double-checking work, but allow your kids to make mistakes, as it's the only way teachers can gauge if they understand the material. It's also how children learn responsibility for the quality of their work.

6.   Fill your child's life with a love for learning by showing him your own curiosity, respecting his questions, and encouraging his efforts.

7.   Fill your home with books to read, books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life's many questions. The public or school library is an excellent resource.

8.   Be a partner with your child's teacher. When you need to speak to him or her in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child. Make a point never to criticize your child's teacher in front of your child.

9.   Set up a system where routine items are easily located—such as backpacks, shoes, signed notices. Create a central calendar for upcoming events to avoid the unexpected.

10. Tuck a "love note" in your child's lunch bag to let her know how special she is. Knowing they are loved makes it easier for children to be kind to others.  

By Mimi Doe

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Top Ten Things Teachers Wish Parents Would Do

1. Be involved. Parent involvement helps students learn, improves schools, and helps teachers work with you to help your children succeed.
    
2. Provide resources at home for learning. Utilize your local library, and have books and magazines available in your home. Read with your children each day.
    
3. Set a good example. Show your children by your own actions that you believe reading is both enjoyable and useful. Monitor television viewing and the use of videos and game systems.
    
4. Encourage students to do their best in school. Show your children that you believe education is important and that you want them to do their best.
    
5. Value education and seek a balance between schoolwork and outside activities. Emphasize your children's progress in developing the knowledge and skills they need to be successful both in school and in life.
    
6. Recognize factors that take a toll on students' classroom performance:
• Consider the possible negative effects of long hours at after-school jobs or in extracurricular activities. Work with your children to help them maintain a balance between school responsibilities and outside commitments.
• View drinking and excessive partying as serious matters. While most parents are concerned about drug abuse, many fail to recognize that alcohol, over-the-counter drugs, and common substances used as inhalants are more frequently abused than illegal drugs.
   
7. Support school rules and goals. Take care not to undermine school rules, discipline, or goals.
    
8. Use pressure positively. Encourage children to do their best, but don't pressure them by setting goals too high or by scheduling too many activities.
    
9. Call teachers early if you think there's a problem while there is still time to solve it. Don't wait for teachers to call you.
    
10. Accept your responsibility as parents. Don't expect the school and teachers to take over your obligations as parents. Teach children self-discipline and respect for others at home -- don't rely on teachers and schools to teach these basic behaviors and attitudes.

Source: National Parent Teacher Association and Family Education Network  

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How To Talk So Teachers Will Listen

Many teachers today rely on formal parent-teacher conferences to convey information about a child's progress; but, as important as these face-to-face meetings are, they're often limited to 15-minute or 20-minute intervals. So it pays to plan ahead and do your homework. You can make the most of the time you'll have with the teacher by following these five strategies:

1.   Before you go, jot down questions you would like to ask about how your child is doing and what you can do to help.
 

2.   Start the session by describing a positive classroom experience your child has had ("Sam really enjoyed the lesson you gave on rockets.") This tells the teacher what she or he is doing right and sets a positive tone for the meeting.
 

3.  Share any information from home that may be affecting your child's performance in school ("Nicole has been very quiet and sad since her grandmother became ill.")
 

4.   Instead of telling the teacher what she or he is doing wrong, try describing specific ways you've found to meet your child's needs ("My son gets discouraged easily, especially with reading. I've discovered that he does better when someone notices any little progress he makes.")
 

5.   Follow up with a note to the teacher. This finishing touch will help confirm that you've discussed and established that you're both working towards the common goal of helping your youngster succeed in school.

Source: Sesame Street Parents, November 1999

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Ten Tips for a Successful

Parent-Teacher Conference

By Peggy Gisler, Ed.S. and Marge Eberts, Ed.S.

Parent-teacher conferences present an excellent opportunity to find out how your child is adjusting to the new school year and to get to know her teachers.

Here are some general hints on how to have a successful conference:

1.      Ask your child if there is anything that he would like you to discuss with the teacher.

2.      Jot down everything that you want to talk about at the conference.

3.      Arrive promptly or a few minutes early.

4.      Begin with positive comments about the teacher or classroom.

5.      Avoid lengthy discussions of topics that are not related to the purpose of the conference.

6.      Be open-minded to suggestions from the teacher.

7.      Keep your emotions under control.

8.      Take notes about what has been discussed to share with your child.

9.      Express appreciation for the conference.

10. Do not stay beyond your allotted time.

Source: Family Education Network

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Become a Volunteer in our Class:

The list below highlights some of the ways you can become involved.  Feel free to send me a note or email to let me know how you'd like to help! Thank you!

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