Parent Magazine St. Johns September 2019 | Page 12

Banish The Back-To-School Blues:
10
Ways To Build Better Student-
Teacher Relationships
By Christina Katz
T
eacher-student cooperation is an
important alliance that starts at home
and affects a child’s entire academic
career. Having positive relationships with
teachers throughout 12 years of school can
make the difference between a child who
adores school and all it encompasses and a
child who dreads school and struggles on a
daily basis.
By the time school starts each fall, teachers
have already invested years of education,
practice, and preparation into getting
this school year off to a great start. Most
parents want their children to succeed in
school but sometimes students and parents
inadvertently get off on the wrong foot
with teachers. How can parents encourage
kids to meet educational professionals
halfway? Here are 10 tips for helping
your child cultivate positive, supportive,
12 | S T. J O H N S parent M A G A Z I N E
and mutually respectful relationships
with teachers from the first day of school
forward.
1
Attend meet-the-teacher activities.
No matter what the age of your
child, don’t miss an opportunity
to get to know the teacher as
both an educator and a person.
It’s always appropriate for teachers and
students to share things about their lives
with each other as a way of bonding and
getting to know each other.
2
Set positive expectations about
teachers with your child. Even if the
teacher your child was assigned
is new or not the current parent
favorite, express enthusiasm to your child
about learning with the teacher she
will have.