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Teach the teachers

Can improved communication with your child’s teachers help your child succeed?

Often parents wait for their child’s quarterly or semester grades and reports to arrive before setting up a talk with teachers. When a parent opens a discovery based dialogue before reports arrive it can go along way to supporting their child and clarifying any areas of concern. Parents possess unique insights about their children that could potentially help a teacher to understand a student’s strengths and weaknesses. This information can help a teacher to bring the best out in a student. A partnership between school and home is ideal. Keeping meetings focused on the best strategies for supporting your child takes thoughtful consideration.

This checklist can help parents organize thoughts and keep meetings constructive:

  • Before the meeting: make a list of your child’s strengths and passions. List the three most important things to know about your child.
  • Identify what motivates him\her?
  • Identify obstacles (i.e. shyness; organizational skills;learning style concerns)
  • Be sure to let your child know that you will be meeting with teachers to best support him\her.
  • Keep meetings solution focused – remember the objective of the meeting – to forge a positive working partnership with the teacher and to help clarify and connect the teacher to the needs of your child.
  • Determine a plan of action that includes what the teacher will do at school and what you will do at home to best support your child
  • Keep an open mind. Listen to what the teacher has to say to gain insights.
  • Seek common ground and work towards a common goal or strategy
  • Express appreciation for the teacher’s efforts and establish an effective and easy method for an ongoing dialogue

Follow-up wth the teacher and with your child. Share positive feedback and let your child know how proud you are of their efforts. Empathize when challenges arise, and do your best to keep channels of mutually respectful communication open. When you need help, be a role model. Instead of trying to do it all yourself … let your child see that you can reach out for help when it is needed.

One consultation can improve family wellbeing. We help to make home and school a happier place to be.

Schedule a complimentary consultation with Park Avenue Integrative today.
212-737-1819


Karin Yapalater MFA, CHHC, AADP
Board Certified Individual & Family Health & Nutrition Counselor
Park Avenue Family Wellness • Hamptons Family Wellness
715 Park Avenue • New York, NY 10021
Phone:
Email Karin

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