| With another school year coming, everyone | | | | and it lets your child know that you have asked |
| hopes for the best performance from students. | | | | the teacher to contact you for any concerns. This |
| Parents buy clothes, shoes, coats, school supplies | | | | will help keep your child focused because most |
| and so forth to give their student the best start | | | | students don't want the teacher contacting their |
| possible. The chairs at the local hair salons are | | | | parents. This lets the teacher know that you are |
| filled with everyone getting haircuts and styles in | | | | expecting communication from them if necessary. |
| preparation for the much anticipated "first day of | | | | In addition, the open house is a great time to |
| school." Like students today, when I attended | | | | note the email address and phone number of the |
| K-12 school, I too was excited for the first day | | | | teacher. This way if you want to make a |
| or two. I wanted to see old friends, meet new | | | | progress check on your own, you can call or |
| people and, hopefully, get teachers who were | | | | write. |
| reasonable and understandable. | | | | 4. Contact Your Child's Teachers When Things |
| To help students get the performance | | | | Are Going Well. Maintain communications with the |
| expectations that everyone hopes for, there are | | | | teachers to see if what your student is telling you |
| simple things that can be done by parents at the | | | | matches what the teacher says. Ask for a |
| very beginning of the school year before there | | | | progress report on your child separate from the |
| are any bad reports from the school. These | | | | regular progress report times. When parents stay |
| actions can prevent certain negative episodes and | | | | involved at the school it can help identify good |
| make others less explosive. | | | | things that a student is doing and a parent can |
| 1. Get Your Child(ren) to School Every Day. | | | | get a heads-up if a student is talking too much, |
| Although basic, there are some children who miss | | | | has missed an assignment, etc. Research has |
| lots of school because the parent(s) is working | | | | shown that parental involvement helps student |
| two or more jobs or there are other reasons for | | | | performance. |
| missing school. Contact relatives, friends, churches | | | | 5. Address Issues That Surface Quickly. LISTEN! |
| and/or child welfare agencies in your community | | | | Listen to your child. Listen to the teacher. Ask |
| for ideas and resources that may be able to help | | | | questions. Sleep on it for a day to see if you think |
| you get your child to school. If it's something like | | | | of any other concerns. Ask more questions. Do |
| a conflicting work schedule that needs to be | | | | not automatically blame the student. Do the best |
| negotiated, there may be a friend who lives close | | | | you can to get the full story and then decide if a |
| by and would be willing to help ensure your child's | | | | conference is needed. If so, schedule the |
| school attendance. | | | | conference and get a corrective action plan in |
| 2. Get Your Child(ren) To School On Time. One | | | | place. Inform your child in simple language of the |
| would think this to be common. However, there | | | | behaviors that are expected going forward. Also, |
| are parents and guardians who are still learning to | | | | be sure to mention to the teacher any concerns |
| manage themselves and need to have a friendly | | | | that your child mentioned to you. So many times |
| reminder that children must be to school on time | | | | children get disciplined for their actions while the |
| in order to have the best chance at succeeding. It | | | | child's feedback never makes it to the teacher. It |
| can be embarrassing to be late to class all the | | | | is important to communicate to the teacher any |
| time. Even if one is walking a child to school, leave | | | | concerns from the student. For example, your |
| early enough to make it on time. Children take | | | | child may be sent to the office for failing to follow |
| their cues from parents, guardians and teachers | | | | the instructions of the teacher. Your child may |
| on how to value school. If a child is repeatedly | | | | even admit to the behavior. The child will get |
| late, it creates embarrassment and may distract | | | | detention and whatever consequence you as the |
| the child from producing the best possible work. In | | | | parent deem necessary. Yet, let's say during one |
| addition, as the child grows older and is expected | | | | of your discussions with your child, your child |
| to direct themselves in high school, for example, | | | | mentions that they don't really like the class |
| they may have difficulty being prompt for class | | | | because Mrs Johnson only lets Billy pass out |
| and other important obligations. Lastly, when | | | | corrected papers. This piece of information from |
| children arrive late to class routinely, learning for | | | | your child needs to be communicated to the |
| the other students is disrupted as the teacher | | | | teacher. The teacher needs to know that, |
| works to help get the late student integrated into | | | | whether true or not, the student's perception is |
| class assignments. | | | | that the teacher favors Billy. You cannot control |
| 3. Go To The School Open House At The | | | | what the teacher does with that information. |
| Beginning Of The Year. This is a way to meet the | | | | However, you can at least acknowledge your |
| teachers who are going to educate your children | | | | child's concern by sharing it with the teacher. At a |
| for the rest of the year. Lots of parents will be | | | | minimum, your child will be glad that you voiced |
| there so no one will be out of place. One of the | | | | the concern. Monitor the plan to ensure fulfillment |
| most important things a parent can do at the | | | | on parent, teacher and student's part. This keeps |
| open house is say to the teachers, "Please | | | | the student's education flowing in the right |
| contact me if there are any concerns with my | | | | direction. |
| child. I am willing to help." This lets the teachers | | | | These five simple actions can help to make your |
| know that you intend to be an involved parent | | | | school year more productive and peaceful. |