your teen’s academic progress can be
difficult. Most teens don’t volunteer much information and
they don’t like answering a bunch of questions. So, what’s a
well-meaning parent to do?
Communicating with your teen’s teachers on a regular basis can
be a big help in your quest to know what’s going on with your
teen’s school work. Not only will the communication help you
to keep abreast of grades and progress, it will benefit the
teacher as well.
Think of yourself as being a partner with the teacher, you help
each other in providing what is best for your teen. You each
have different contributions to make and they are equally
important. You need information from the teacher so that you
can be an extension of the classroom. The teacher needs
information from you about any problems or concerns so that she
is better equipped to help your child at school. The bottom
line is, the more information each of you has from the other,
the better chance your teen has of being academically
successful. I have seen drastic improvements in a student’s
performance once the student realized that their parents and I
were communicating frequently, and honestly, about his
performance and how to provide what was best for him.
The most important thing to remember in any communication with
a teacher is that you both want the same thing, and that’s for
your teen to be successful. But you need to remember, teachers
are very busy. You’ll get better communication and responses
from them if you make it as quick and easy for them as
possible. Don’t feel like you’re bothering them, it’s part of
their job to give you feedback. But the easier you can make it
for them, the better job they will be able to do in
communicating with you.
It is a good idea to simply ask each teacher what their
preferred method of communication is. One of mine was by
email. Phone calls are fine, but teachers aren’t available by
phone during much of the school day. Email can by checked
quickly and answered easier than returning a phone call. Of
course, sometimes you do need that human contact, depending on
what the communication is about.
Just like teachers, you also have a very busy life! So make
the most of any communication by being prepared. Be
proactive. Have it clear in your mind what you want to ask or
convey. Be concise and direct, have any questions or concerns
written down.
Finally, my experience has shown me that the way in which you
present yourself during communication with a teacher can have
just as much impact as the actual information exchange itself.
Be calm, level-headed, and informed. Even if you disagree with
or have a problem with the teacher, be polite. You will easily
lose all credibility if your approach is filled with blame and
anger. Remember, you and the teacher want the same thing!!
About The Author: Linda Hinkle is an educator and advocate for
parents of high school students. To receive her free audio
“How To Help Your Teen Succeed In High School” visit
http://www.parentsguidetohighschool.com
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