The first week of the new school year is over and the year is beginning to settle into familiar routines. Most children will have a new teacher for 2018, and it is important to establish a positive relationship between home and school from the beginning of the year before any potential problems arise. Your child’s teacher spends a lot of time with them, but no one knows your child better than you do. So set up a time early in the school year to meet with the teacher and share helpful information about your child.
Things you might like to discuss include:
Learning Style: Everyone has a preferred learning style; whether it be visual, auditory or kinaesthetic. You have been your child’s first teacher and you know how they learn best. Let the teacher know how they cope with homework and assignments, and share what you have found to work with your child.
Special Interests: Share your child’s interests, talents and hobbies with the teacher, so they can more easily establish a meaningful connection with your child in the classroom.
Health Conditions: Does your child have a diagnosed health issue that the teacher should be aware of? Does the school need to organise a health plan so they can manage any issues effectively at a school level? Discuss how possible impacts of these issues may affect your child’s learning capabilities.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Is your child a fantastic mathematician but struggles with writing? Making the teacher aware of your child’s strengths and weaknesses allows them to target their teaching to best suit your child.
Personality and Behaviour Issues: Maybe your child is extremely shy or overly aggressive in certain situations. Giving the teacher the ‘heads up’ can assist them when planning effective program delivery for your child.
Family Issues: Have there been any serious family issues that could affect your child’s ability to concentrate in class? A serious illness, death in the family or a divorce/separation can have a lasting affect on a child and needs to be discussed with your child’s teacher.
Sharing all of these things with the teacher will enable them to get to know and understand your child more quickly and will lay the groundwork for a cooperative and positive relationship throughout the academic year. Try to have short, regular talks with your child’s teacher. That way, you always know how your child is coping with school, allowing you and the teacher to address any issues before they become bigger problems.