5 Ways to Build a Better Relationship With Your Child’s Teacher

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In school, children start building the educational foundation on which the rest of their lives will
stand. They will learn the fundamentals of basic areas of learning, forge their first lasting friendships,
and build positive relationships with their teachers. As a parent, one of your concerns should be building
your own relationship with your child’s teacher. Follow these guidelines to get to know your children’s
teachers and help the little ones make the most of their time in school.

1. Introduce Yourself Right AwayOn the first day of school, or even before, try to introduce yourself to your child’s teacher. There may
   be some kind of open house for parents and their children to come get a feel for the school and meet
   the teachers. Take advantage of these opportunities–this will be your first chance to meet the faculty
   and introduce yourself as a caring, involved parent. Getting to know the teachers early is the start of a
   positive parent-teacher relationship.
2. Stay in Touch Via EmailIt is beneficial for both parents and teachers to stay in touch regularly. Take down the teacher’s email
   address so that you can maintain contact even when you’re too busy for a face-to-face meeting. Bring
   up any concerns you may have with your child’s performance in class, or just write a friendly letter to
   say thank you and stay up to date on school affairs. Email is a more convenient means of contact than
   telephone, as it allows the two of you to chat on your own time about whatever may be on your mind.
3. Attend Parent-Teacher ConferencesMost schools have periodic conferences during which parents and teachers can meet for discussions and
   progress reports. These are most often scheduled at the end of a grading period, which allows you to
   gauge your child’s progress in class and go over any possible problems your child may be having. Take
   advantage of these occasions to get to know your child’s teacher a bit better and continue to build a
   positive relationship.
4. Volunteer at the SchoolSchools need parents to lend helping hands from time to time. You may be able to act as a chaperon
   on field trips, help out during school hours, or contribute to fund-raising efforts. These are all great
   opportunities to get involved and get to know your children’s teachers a bit better. Before you know
   it your kids will going off to college, pursuing USC Masters in Public Health online programs, and entering the
   working world. Building a strong relationship with their teachers now will be a great help down the line.
5. Talk to Your ChildrenAbove all, keep lines of communication open with your children. Ask them about school regularly to
   get a feel for how things are going. These conversations will give you something to talk about with the
   teachers, which will help enhance the educational experience overall. Students need help to succeed in
   school, and one of the best ways to help them is to build better relationships with their teachers.