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Tips
for Parents
It’s important for you to know your child’s teacher at school for
a lot of reasons – and not just when you become aware of any
problems. First and foremost, children benefit from seeing their
parents at school. Your presence shows that you care about them and
about what happens at school.
1. How should I contact and/or arrange a visit
to my child’s school?
Most schools host events close to
the beginning of the school year. This is a time when all parents
can visit the school, meet the teacher, other parents, and the
principal. Many teachers also schedule parent-teacher
conferences, which are a good way to talk about your child in
detail. You may also want to meet with the teacher or principal
outside these times. You should call the teacher to arrange a time
or send a note to teacher by way of your child.
2. Who are the key staff members I should know at
my child’s school?
It’s important that there be at least one adult at the school who
knows your child well. This person can be your child’s current
teacher, a teacher s/he’s had in the past, his/her guidance
counselor, school nurse or even the principal. These are all people
you should be familiar with.
3. What information should I share with the
staff to help them educate my child?
Tell the staff about your child’s personality: is he/she outgoing
or shy? Energetic or laid-back? Children learn in different ways.
Know how your child learns and tell your child’s teacher about it.
Outside stress can affect your child’s learning. If there’s
something going on at home—a divorce, the death of a family member
or beloved pet—tell school staff about it.
4. What do I need to know about my child from
his/her teacher?
Your child’s teacher can give you insight into your child’s
learning style and his/her personality away from home. The teacher
can also alert you to academic or social problems that you can then
address with your child. The sooner you and your child address any
problems, the easier they will be to solve.
5. What do I need to know about my child from
his/her principal?
If there is a disciplinary problem with your child, the principal
should contact you. You should then try to schedule a meeting with
the principal, your child and his/her teacher to discuss the problem
and possible solutions. The principal should also contact you
concerning larger issues at school that don’t involve your child
directly, but do affect him/her.
6. What do I need to know about my child from
his/her school counselor?
What your child’s counselor can tell you depends mostly on
whether or not your child has been seeing the counselor. If so, then
the counselor can be an important resource regarding your child’s
personality and emotional well-being. If your child has not seen the
counselor, the counselor can give you general advice about any
social problems your child may be experiencing.
7. How should I find out about other services (tutoring,
health screenings) my child’s school may provide?
You can get information on school-provided and related services
anytime. Back to School night is a great opportunity to collect
information. Most teachers will then schedule parent-teacher
conferences and you can ask for information then, or just call the
school office and ask. It is important that you get this information
before there is a problem, that way you are prepared.
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