The Lounging Room

5 Ways Teachers and Parents Can Work Together with their Child

1) Make sure the doors of communication is constantly open - There are several ways to communicate nowadays.  Most everyone have email addresses and a phone number.   Email newsletters can be sent by teachers to update parents on upcoming events and news.  For private concerns about their child, parents can arrive earlier at drop off to talk to the teacher or stay a little later after pick up.  If this is not possible because it gets too busy during drop offs and pick ups, then leave a note in a folder that is shared among the parent and teacher that is either placed in a visible place at class or is a folder that is brought home and taken back to school everyday.  Also parents and teachers can set aside face-to-face meetings formally or even over coffee. 

2) Get on the same schedule - teachers can distribute a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule to parents that not only includes the basic (snack, lunch, playtime/recess), but also the theme of the week and the theme of the month.

3) Homework plans - teachers can distribute a weekly homework plan so parents can see what their child is studying, and parents can ask the teacher how they can help with lessons at home.

4) Getting the Basics Down - Parents can make sure the child eats breakfast, has a healthy snack and lunch to bring to school or can be purchased, and make sure the child gets enough sleep.

5) Take an Active Interest in the Child's experiences at school - Parents can ask the child how their day went at school, favorite activity they did today, while teachers can tell parents what their child did well today.