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Health & Fitness

Successful Parent – Teacher Partnerships

As parents, we want our children to succeed in all aspects of their lives. One of the easiest ways to ensure your child’s success in school is by developing a quality relationship with your child’s teacher and becoming involved in special classroom events. With the new school year fast approaching, it is the perfect time to start building the foundation for a successful relationship. 

Here are a few tips on how you can create the kind of parent-teacher partnership that will benefit you and your family and support your child’s teacher:

Invest in orientation. Worried about what you can expect on the first day of school for both you and your child? Don’t skip orientation. This may be the first time you meet your child’s teacher. It’s also the best way to calm your nerves and get answers to initial questions! If you can’t make the orientation, don’t be afraid to schedule an appointment with your child’s teacher.

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Be ready. Go to orientation or the first day of school prepared. Have emergency contact information and all the required paperwork ready to give the school or your child’s teacher. For orientation, draft a list of questions you would like to have answered.

Keep the lines of communication open. If you have a concern or your child said something you didn’t understand, ask about it immediately. If there is a problem, it can’t be solved unless someone knows about it. On the other hand, if you are particularly happy with how something is going, let the teacher and school know. Teachers are like everyone else — they enjoy hearing positive feedback; it makes them feel good and opens the door to positive two-way communication.

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Take the home to school connection seriously. Being involved in your child’s education is not as difficult as it might seem. Remember, you are your child’s first teacher, so give yourself credit for all the time you have spent reading, modeling appropriate behavior and answering questions. You can also ask your child’s teacher for ways to extend or encourage exploration and learning at home.

Check-in regularly. In addition to seeing progress reports from your child’s teacher, schedule a conference when you feel like you need to get a better understanding of how your child is doing. Ask what you can do at home support your child’s learning.

A quality relationship between you and your child’s teacher can make a difference in your child’s academic and emotional development. Relationships are built on trust; and trust builds over time and requires communication. Don’t wait for the school or teacher to initiate the contact. 

To learn more about Primrose School of Dunwoody, visit our school campus at 5050 Nandina Lane in Dunwoody, www.PrimroseDunwoody.com or call 770.396.8266.

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