How to Talk to Your Child's Teacher

For parents, communicating effectively with your child's teacher can be frustrating. Between letters back and forth and what your child tells you, many things can be lost in translation. Often our own experiences in school cause us to feel threatened or even intimidated by our own child's classroom teacher. Understanding how to effectively communicate with your child's teacher can greatly increase what they take away from their education.

Teachers Are Human

The first thing that you should keep in mind is that teachers are human. They make mistakes just like you and me. Even through the mistakes, your child's teacher wants to help your son or daughter as much as you do. If something has happened in the classroom that you are not happy about, give the teacher a chance to explain. The worst thing you can do is go in angry and prepared to battle.

If you are prepared to go in fighting, there is no way that you and the teacher can work together to successfully resolve the issue. In the end, all parties will still be upset and what might have been a small problem has turned into hard feelings. Be forgiving and your child will benefit.

Jumping To Conclusions

Don't jump to conclusions. We've all been there. Your child comes home from school and announces that the teacher was mean to them. They explain that they were being good and a child on the playground hit them. Even though your child did nothing, the teacher took away their recess for the day and made them do extra work, or some other equally painful punishment. Of course, you get upset. Your child was the victim here.

You march down to the school, sit down in front of the teacher, and you give her a piece of your mind. How dare she mistreat your child! When you are done yelling, the teacher explains her side of the story. Yes, your child was standing there doing absolutely nothing when another child hit them. Except, the other child was pushed into your child and it was not their fault at all. In return, your child turned around and punched the other child in the stomach.

Yes, this is a whole different story. Keep in mind that children are still developing reasoning skills. They don't always understand exactly why they were in trouble, or even remember what happened exactly. If your child tells you something upsetting, you should talk to the teacher. Still, don't jump to conclusions and automatically think that the teacher has something against your child. It could result in a very embarrassing situation for you.

Feeling Intimidated

There are some parents who feel intimidated by their child's teacher. This makes talking to the teacher very difficult. Once again, teachers are regular people, just like you. Yes, most know how to speak properly and most dress in nice clothes, but this means nothing. In college, teachers are taught that they must dress and talk this way. After all, you would not want someone who uses the word 'ain't' teaching your child. Would you feel comfortable leaving your child with a teacher wearing an old t-shirt, worn out pair of jeans, and hair in a messy ponytail?

If you feel nervous when talking to your child's teacher, try to remember that they are not above you in any way. In fact, they work for you and for your child. Teachers are hired to provide you a service and in a way, you are their boss. This does not mean that you should go in and start telling the teacher what to do and how to do it. This simply means that there is no reason to be uncomfortable and intimidated. If there is something you would like to discuss with your child's teacher, and you feel intimidated by the situation, try sending a letter first. Your child can deliver the letter and it might be more effective.

Communicating effectively with your child's teacher will make a world of difference in your child's education. If the two of you are working as a team to help your child, they are going to benefit from that.