Real Talk
Relationships with parents are vital to the success of a teacher and the students. Parenting and teaching go hand in hand since both adults are invested in a child’s future. However, without walking in each other’s shoes, it can be hard to be on the same page about what is best for kids. While there are probably things parents wish they could say to teachers, there are many, many things teachers want to tell parents. Yes, some of them might be a bit rude, but, for the most part, teachers care deeply about each and every child and, at the end of the day, just really want to do what’s best for everyone – parents included!
Read on for some things teachers on Reddit want parents to know.
1. Please be kind.
Some parents feel that the best way to get teachers to do what they want is to be rude and intimidating. These parents are wrong! Teachers are human beings who work hard and deserve kindness and respect. And chances are, the nicer you are, the more likely you are to get what you want.
2. Your child is not my only student.
Parents view their child as the most important child in the whole wide world, which is great! However, teachers have many students, sometimes hundreds of students, so nobody deserves more attention than anybody else. Do teachers genuinely love their students and work hard for each one of them? Absolutely! But they can’t play favorites and shouldn’t be asked to. Education needs to be an equal opportunity establishment for all kids. There is neither time nor room for teachers to provide special treatment.
3. Bring your child to school. On time. Every single day.
Yes, your child misses valuable learning opportunities when they are tardy or absent! Teachers have a massive amount of curriculum to fit in each year, and the days are packed with as much as possible. If your child is tardy, they are already behind because teachers start class with the bell. If your child is regularly absent, so much information is missed. Nothing can replace the authentic learning environment of the classroom and doing makeup work is great, but it can never replace what a teacher does.
4. Monitor your child’s grades.
It’s the teacher’s job to assign the work, grade the assignments, and hand the papers back to the students. It is the student’s job to do their best work and ask for help when they need it. It is the grown-ups’ job to check in with their kids and see what they are learning, how they are doing, and what they might need some extra help with. A child’s education doesn’t stop with the teacher!
5. Your child MUST do the work.
Your child is responsible for knowing what assignments are, when they are due, and what exactly they need to do be successful. It is the teacher’s responsibility to explain assignments and help students when they ask. But, your child needs to ask for help! Your child must also take initiative to get things done even when it’s boring, hard, or unpleasant.
6. Teach your kids manners.
Teachers love your children and are constantly polite and loving, but they don’t always get the same in return. Please teach your children basic manners, expect them to be polite, and follow up when they don’t. Trust the teachers – this will set your child up for so much success later in life!
7. Don’t focus only on the grades.
Yes, the grades are important, but so is growing in life. If your child is making progress, things are going in the right direction. Make sure your child is also getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy, studying well, building self-confidence, and having time for some fun. All these things set a child up for success.
8. Let’s work together.
While nobody will love your child like you do, teachers also love their students and want what’s best for them. If you don’t like a decision a teacher has made, aim for a polite and rational conversation. Most teachers are willing to listen to parent concerns and work toward a solution that makes everyone happy. Form a team with teachers and your child is sure to benefit.
9. Let your children experience hardship.
No, it’s not fun watching your kids make mistakes or have a disagreement with a friend, but failures and hard things are important learning opportunities. People fail, we aren’t good at everything, and some things are hard. When kids experience small ordinary hardships, it gives them an opportunity for growth, and kids need that to be successful later in life. Boredom encourages children to problem-solve and get creative. Disagreements with friends present opportunities to learn compromise.
And most importantly…
10. Encourage and support them!
Children care deeply about what their parents think about them. Encourage them. Build them up. Make them feel good about their efforts. It will make all the difference! The old saying, “it takes a village” certainly applies to the interactions between teachers and their students and their students’ families. Make the conscious choice to form an alliance with your child’s teachers and everyone will be happier and more successful!
