Parents’ Poll: How do you communicate with your child’s teacher?
Results of the poll:
The good news: Most of you are satisfied with your communication with your kids' teachers. You're usually the one to initiate the contact, and the exchanges are most frequently by e-mail.
However, one out of three of you said there were topics you don't bring up to the teacher, most often for "fear of being judged."
Your suggestions for communicating well with a teacher include maintaining on-going contact, respecting the teacher's time and perspective, and approaching the exchange with a positive attitude. You encourage one another to be honest, persistent and never be intimidated when it comes to raising important issues.
Here's what you told us:
Keep the channels of communication open
- Get involved in the classroom. It is much easier to communicate with someone if you are able to develop a relationship before you have problems you need to work out.
Be respectful of the teacher's time and perspective
- Arrive at a time convenient to the teacher.
- Listen. Be kind. Be gentle. Don't accuse.
- Think of the teacher's point of view about issues before addressing them.
- Don't get on the defensive.
- Make a list of questions so you won't forget something.
- Don't ever bring up something during parties or field trips when there are a lot of distractions.
Approach the exchange with a positive attitude
- I am a teacher AND a parent. I'd like parents to know that most of the primary-school teachers I know love to have partnership with parents—especially when it stays open and solution oriented.
- You have to see the teacher as your partner in your child's education. Both of you are working together to provide the best educational experience for your child.
Be honest, persistent, and direct, and don't be intimidated
- Be calm and stick with the facts.
- Even things that are difficult or uncomfortable to bring up should be discussed.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions.
- Don't be afraid to communicate no matter how trivial it may seem to you—it may not be to the teacher.
- Teachers do not always know everything going on in the class. Bullies still exist, and the school can't enforce its policies toward them if it isn't made aware of the problem.
How do you stay in contact with your child's teacher?
67%: E-mail
58%: Notes in backpack
57%: At parent-teacher conferences
31%: At drop-off or pick-up from school
29%: Telephone
1%: Through class parents.
- I set up my personal e-mail to text-message me on my cell phone and forward a copy to my work e-mail anytime anyone @yourschooldistrict.edu sends me an e-mail
- My son's first-grade teacher has created a classroom Google Group. There she posts her newsletter, homework, e-mail, the class's rainbow words, and any other pertinent info. Also, she created the "Back and Forth" book. It's a steno book in which she writes any necessary notes on the left side. It is sent home each night and parents/guardians can respond to the note on the right side and initial homework.
Who initiates the contact?
90%: I do
29%: The teacher
What are the topics of communication?
68%: In-class academics
60%: Behavior
51%: Homework
44%: Upcoming events
35%: Social adjustment
19%: School trips
Other topics you mention include:
- Lesson plans
- Illness
- Grades
- Afterschool arrangements
How would you rate your communication with your child's teacher?
38%: Excellent
38%: Good
18%: Okay
7%: Needs Improvement
Are there topics you would like to bring up to the teacher, but don't?
67%: No
33%: Yes
If yes, why?
52%: Concerns about being judged
37%: Not sure if the issue is appropriate
33%: Time constraints
- I don't want the teacher to take it out on my child, or for my child to be singled out or targeted unfairly. Sometimes my child begs me to not say anything.
- I often feel she is unapproachable or not interested in certain subjects.
- She doesn't take calls during the day and can't seem to return calls later. Communicating by notes limits the conversation to absolutely necessary work.
For tips on how to make the most out of parent-teacher conferences, go to www.nea.org/parents