4
Let the teacher do the teaching. Once the year
kicks off, assume a supporting role. Express
interest in your child’s academic work and
school activities but try to let her tackle challenges
like homework and projects herself.
5
See how well your child can meet standards on his
own. Schools set up checkpoints like teacher
conferences to assess student progress. Use
these opportunities to find out how well your child is
doing in school. Be relaxed and open-minded about
any reports, especially if they are not what you were
hoping to hear.
6
Coach from the backseat. No parent likes to see
a child falter. But facing struggles can be
helpful in building character and teaching
him lessons about himself. Don’t do your child’s work
for him. Take on a cheerleading stance instead.
7
Get more structured support as needed. If the year
is at the halfway point and your child is
not making solid academic progress, and
you have exhausted the school’s resources, consider
a private tutor, a learning service like Kumon or a
tutoring service like Sylvan. Try to find a private tutor
with reasonable rates using an online tutor-finder like
Care.com.
8
Participate. Three common commitments
are parent-teacher meetings, school events,
and parent volunteering. But don’t be at
the school 24-7. If your child gets the sense that you
are appropriately committed and engaged in the
spirit of the school without hovering, she can relax,
participate, and focus on doing her best.
9
Don’t pressure. Meet your student wherever he
is. There is no point in projecting your prior
academic success onto your child or pressing
him to achieve more than he is reasonably capable
of accomplishing. Love and appreciate your child as a
whole person, not just a grade at the end of the year,
and he will feel secure and motivated.
10
Express gratitude. Offer teachers an inexpensive
card or gift at holiday time and the end of
the year. But don’t write the thank-you note
for your child. Help her write it herself instead until
she is old enough to take over the job.
Reboot That Rocky Relationship: 5 Ways To Resolve
Student-Teacher Conflicts
Here’s an easy troubleshooting guide for teacher-
student relationships that get off to a rocky start.
1. If you are not sure what to say, start sentences
with the phrase, “I am concerned because…” Then
ask, “Do you think there is anything that needs to
be done to address this concern?”
2. Ask questions until you understand the situation
and what your child can do better.
3. Convey to both the teacher and your child that
you will do everything you can to help address the
issue.
4. Check in with your child daily for a couple of weeks
to ensure teacher expectations are understood and
heeded.
5. Follow-up with the teacher after two weeks to make
sure there has been a noticeable improvement.
Don’t assume the situation will be resolved immediately
just because you brought it up. And don’t believe it is
resolved merely because the student says it is. Confirm a
more harmonious relationship from the teacher’s point of
view, as well. When harmony is achieved, praise your child
for making an effort and thank the teacher for his time
and attention. If your child’s teacher brings up a challenge
that needs to be addressed, follow the same steps.
Whatever You Do, Don’t…
• Don’t expect teachers to drop everything and get back to
you immediately. Assume a busy, full schedule and allow
about a week for a response.
• Don’t take things personally when issues that come up
are actually about your child’s progress in school.
• Don’t expect teachers to try and please you. They are
supposed to focus on teaching the kids, not coddling the
parents.
• Don’t speak disparagingly about your child’s teachers
with him or in front of him.
• Don’t fire off an email when you are angry. Wait until
you calm down and then send an email asking for more
information or requesting a meeting time.
• Don’t go over a teacher’s head unless you have made
every attempt to cooperate with that teacher first. If you
have tried three times and been unsuccessful each time,
you might send a calm note to the principal explaining
that you are having a hard time communicating with the
teacher and you would like some assistance.
L
I
M
A
F D
Y
L
I
M
A
F
Y
O
J
EN
N! S!
U Y
F A
SKATE
C
I
L
B
PU
RTIES
A
P
Y
A
BIRTHD
DAY 4 S
Y
L
I
M
A
F SAT & SUN 2- PM
EVERY S
M
ENA.CO
R
A
E
C
I
NA
DAYTO
INCRE
DIBLE
E!
ILY TIM
FA C E M
L L Y S L O G O ID
S H S
E E & T
T H AW ZO N E LO G O
R K
FUN FO TS!
N
E
R
A
P
SHEET
V O L U S I A parent M A G A Z I N E | 9