6 Tips for Effective Parent Teacher Communication this School Year

A new school year means new routines, new supplies, new haircuts, and maybe some fresh sneakers.

It also means (most of the time) new teachers! As a teacher, I loved this new fresh start every year to build a community with a new group of children and their families. For your child, a new year is a great time to build their positive mindset around school by modeling your own confidence and excitement. Issues that come up later in the year are a lot easier to tackle once this strong foundation is set. We want our children to feel supported in this new adventure.

Research shows time and time again that parental involvement is a huge indicator of student success. This starts with strong parent-teacher communication.

Your child will be spending a lot of time with their new teacher and classmates. It is critical to have effective communication with their teacher right from the start. There is a lot the teacher will and should be doing to forge a partnership with you, but you can kick things off in a positive direction, too! In doing so, you communicate to your child that you and their teacher are teammates with a common goal - to make this year a successful and positive one. You will demonstrate your trust and confidence in this new person, and this will help your child acclimate a little bit faster.

So how can you make sure that you have effective communication with your child’s teacher this year? Start by following these 6 tips.

1. Introduce yourself early.

Introduce yourself as friendly and helpful face. If there is a meet and greet or new teacher orientation, make every effort to go and say hi. It is very beneficial for the children to ease their nerves, and it helps you get a sense of the teacher’s personality and expectations, as well as the classroom environment. Meeting the parents and the children together also helps the teacher more thoroughly understand family dynamics and connections.

Your child's teacher will probably send home forms that survey your communication preferences. Fill these out thoroughly and double check all phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contacts. Please also inform the school right away if your child prefers a nickname or does not go by their full name. Kindergarten teachers especially label *approximately* 7 million items in their classroom. Please help them by providing the right name.

If the teacher asks, let them know how you would prefer them to contact you. If a teacher requests that you use a particular form of communication, you should try to follow that. This helps them streamline their efforts, and you will also have speedier responses. Many teachers use parent-teacher communication apps such as Remind, SeeSaw, or Bloomz. They are so handy!

2. Be available

While volunteering in the classroom is not always possible, try to make yourself available in whatever way you can. Attend school events such as parent-teacher conferences and back-to-school night. Offer to send in requested supplies, or chaperone when you can. Ask the teacher if there are other opportunities for you to help with the classroom. Feel free to be transparent about your availability and work situation!

Be responsive to classroom notices, emails, and forms that come home. Check your child's folder every night and try to return forms quickly.

Assist your child with homework and projects, and help foster time management skills. See my post here on how to support executive functioning within the home.

Be available for your child to talk to you without judgement.

3. Communicate often, but be concise

Ask your child’s teacher for clarification and help, rather than trying to figure things out on your own. Don’t be afraid to email or call when you have concerns, but stick to the problem at hand and respect the teacher’s time. Teachers work with many students and families, plus other tasks and duties.

Keep notes brief and to the point, and include your contact information. Be specific and clear with the teacher when you are describing a problem. For example - if your child is having a hard time with homework, explain clearly what about homework is giving your child a hard time so the teacher can help. Also, things come up throughout the year at home. If you are traveling and get home very late, and your kiddo had a rough night sleep - explain that in a brief note so the teacher understands why your child might be “off” that day. If someone is away on a work trip for a week, that also might be helpful information to note.

Give the teacher a heads up so they can navigate these tricky situations with more ease. It is important to let the teacher know when something at home is "off."

4. Be appreciative

Thank your child’s teacher. Even if you don’t feel like you “click,” try to find one thing that you appreciate about them and say it! An email or a hand-written card to say thank you speaks volumes and can TRULY make a teacher’s WHOLE DAY!!

When you want to go above and beyond, email or write to the school administration to show your gratitude.

5. Stay on the same team

Remember that you and your child’s teacher are partners in your child’s learning. Keep the lines of communication open and heed the teacher’s advice. If something doesn’t make sense, such as a new math strategy, ask for help with it before you completely dismiss it. If something about the classroom seems “off” to you, seek to understand in a POLITE way.

Get to know the teacher's expectations for the classroom so you can follow through with them at home.

When your child’s teacher calls you with a concern, try not to be defensive. Ask questions and focus on solutions. Remember, while you do know your child inside and out, sometimes a child will act differently in the classroom. Your child teacher is with your child a lot of time everyday - listen to them. Seek first to understand.

If you have an issue with a teacher, ALWAYS bring it to the teacher’s attention FIRST. Try to resolve the issue together. If you are unable to resolve the issue, then reach out to the school counselor or vice principal/principal. Be polite, and again, seek first to understand.

6. Talk positively about school and your child’s teacher in front of your child.

This one is so important. Please don’t speak negatively about your child’s teacher or argue with them in front of your child. No matter how upset you might be.

Keep your child in a positive headspace and protect their relationship with the teacher. Kids pick up on our tone and attitude very easily, even when you don’t think they are listening.

If your child is curious and wants to know more, respond with something neutral, such as “Your teacher and I are working together to fix ______.”

At the beginning of a new school year, kids can often feel nervous and hesitant (they probably will not say it in so many words, though). We can support them by walking into this unknown with confidence and trust in their new teacher. When we form positive and trusting relationships, our kids will adapt and settle in. They trust you as their parent to lead the way and will pick up on your cues that this is a safe place and a safe person.

What other tips would you add to foster a strong parent-teacher relationship?