Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Parenting Pointers: Back-to-School Success

As a teacher, I want to see all of my kids succeed. But I'm not a miracle worker, and it really helps to have parents productively involved in their kids' education, acting as partners with the teacher for the child's best interest. Here are some basic tips to help work with your child's teachers:
- Be polite. Don't criticize teachers immediately even if you disagree with something your child says is going on. They may be seeing things differently than the teacher, or may not understand why the teacher is doing certain things.
- Be present. Most teachers welcome parents into the classroom at any level, any time. If something's going on, don't wait until the next scheduled conference - find out if you can meet the teacher before or after school.
- Be involved. The more you can be involved with school and classroom events, the more rapport you'll have with the school and the easier it will be to advocate for your child if necessary.
- Be aware. Knowing what is expected and when will help you make sure your child is prepared in terms of standardized testing and homework.
- Be a good example. I cringe whenever parents say they hated math in front of their kids. It may be true, but then it often gives kids the freedom internally to be bad at math as well. Instead, show your kids how you use what you've learned on a daily basis and talk positively about what they're learning, even if you don't think it's useful. Learning how to learn, learning critical skills, and becoming well-rounded are all important, not just doing absolute basic facts minimal to survive.

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