GETTING THE MOST OF THE PARENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIP

Parents* and teachers creating a positive relationship with one another is one of the most important and useful things that can happen in terms of helping a child achieve success in school.  We know that learning takes place in the context of relationships, and children have the strongest relationships with their parents, and also hopefully a very strong relationship with their teacher.  With parents and teachers working together as a team, think of the potential learning power that lies in that relationship for the child.

It is important that parents and teachers build trust with each other, even in the face of disagreement (and we know that disagreements will occur), as the child need to see the parent-teacher relationship as one that is a unified team working in his/her best interest.

Here are questions that parents and teachers should be asking each other.  Neither the parent nor the teacher has all the answers, and each may see things differently based on the lens through which they are looking.  By collectively discussing the questions below, teachers and parents can learn a great deal about what is important to each of them, thus building trust and a sense of teamwork that will help in doing what is best for the child.

What are the child’s strengths?

What areas does the child need to continue to focus on?

What can I, as a parent, do at home to help my child with his/her learning?

What can I, as a teacher, do at school to help my student with his/her learning?

How does the child feel about school and his/her learning?

What types of changes am I, as a parent, seeing at home with my child?

What types of changes am I, as a teacher, seeing at school with my student?

Is there something the teacher should know about my child or the home situation that may help assist the teacher?

How are the child’s social skills both at home and at school?

Parents and teachers both have a vested interest in each child; both want to help their child/student, so don’t hesitate to ask questions of each other.  The key is building a relationship that the child sees as positive, and one in which parents and teachers can learn from each other.

*Please note that the term parent is being used here to refer to the primary caregiver(s) of a child, not necessarily a biological parent.