8/13/2019 Your Child's Teacher and You

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Your Childs Teacher and You

Madhulika has received a note from her 11 year old son Sumits Class Teacher,asking for a meeting. She is not surprised as she had been anticipatingsomething of this sort - of late Sumits grades have been falling, he has also been

complaining about his class and that the teacher picks on him.

The dilemma of course is ho to tackle this meeting. She does reali!e that Sumitcould be at fault but also senses that the teacher may not be handling it the right

ay. She ould like to address these concerns but at the same time she ouldnot ant the meeting to become a slanging match.

Madhulika is on the right track, parents need to realize that their childs teacher isthe only adult beside the parents who can exert a great influence on the child.Inmost cases, your childs teachers are qualified educators who will help him / herto grow and prosper as the school year progresses. If there truly is a problemthat needs to be soled, it will benefit both you and your child if you handle it in a

calm, respectful way that isn!t accusatory or attacking.

"ets face it # most children do not breeze through the school years withoutproblems. $here are bound to be issues with grades, homework, behaior, a

classmate or een a particular teachers approach to dealing with the kids underher charge. %hen that point comes, some leel of parent teacher collaboration is

going to be called for.

&ome points to keep in mind when such a situation arises and the dreaded parentteacher meeting becomes ineitable are listed below.

1. Arrive prepared. 'efore the meeting (ot down a few points you want to

coer, questions you want to ask, and concerns you hae. $he teacher will seethis as a sign that you are taking the meeting seriously.

$alk to your child before meeting her teacher. )sk her if theres anything shed

like you to bring up.

*our conersation with your childs teacher is a two+way street. *ou are there toget information about your childs education and how you can support theprocess and also to proide the teacher with information about your child, hishome life, special needs and circumstances that can help the teacher teach himbetter or understand why he behaes a certain way.

2. Be punctual.-or sure, its not easy to take this hour+and+a+half out of yourbusy schedule, but your childs teacher works full time at the school and has

arious other commitments. nlike offices, schools hae a ery structured minuteto minute schedule. If you arrie half an hour early or late dont expect theteacher to abandon a class to meet up with you.

3. Start out with a positive. If you are thinking of bringing up complaintsabout your childs teacher, dont start off the discussion with a negatie. 'ring upone or two examples of his or her teaching that you are happy with. $hen

approach the negatie. $ry not to nitpick or make your complaints too personal.mphasize why you feel its not best for your child. 0ont let your emotions or

anger take oer the conersation. 'e careful not to undermine the teacher!s

authority. en if you!re feeling negatie towards your childs teacher, try not tolet her know that.

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4. Dont be deensive.If the teacher brings up problems your child is haing,dont be quick to offer excuses and dont get defensie. )sk questions, ask forspecific examples of the problem and then ask what you can do at home to help.

!. Ta"e notes. $ake a paper and pencil with you and be prepared to take notes.)fter the conference, immediately talk to your child about the meeting and whatwas said.

#. $ut the plan into action. 1heck with your child regularly to see how it!sgoing

If you want to be inoled in your childs education you need to put in some timeeery day rather than getting worked up when you see the report card. $alk toyour child eery day about what happened at school , go through her notebooksregularly praise him if hes got a good grade or positie remark , or if thehandwriting is neat, in fact look out for something to praise about the childswork.

0ont be unduly harsh about your childs mistakes. 'e positie een about thenegatie remarks or mistakes that you may obsere in the childs work. $he most

important point to emphasize is that mistakes should be utilized to learn. 2o pointin running down the teacher or the child as it only undermines the childsconfidence and self esteem.

)fter the meeting, you might want to send the teacher a thank+you note or e+mail, restating the plans for improement. It will show her you respect her takingthe time to talk with you.

Madhulika need not hae any apprehensions about the impending meeting with

the teacher. Mature adults set up meetings to address problems and arrie atsolutions. $he best kind of parent teacher meetings takes place in a spirit ofinformation exchange. It helps to keep in mind that both the parent and teacherultimately want what is best for the child and theres is a common goal noconflicts about that.