I recently did a periscope about an unfortunate situation between a teacher and parent that lead to the parent attacking the teacher on social media. I felt terrible for this teacher because no one deserves being called out on the web like that. There are so many other ways to deal with any issue. As a parent, I’ve gone through my fair share of conflicts with teachers and administrators. Here are some tips on how to communicate effectively with your children’s teachers.
Follow a chain of command. Sometimes we instinctively we want to go directly to the head of the department, but I think it’s important to speak to the teacher first. Going above the teacher’s head could cause problems down the line. Besides, most times they are able to resolve the problems a lot quicker than the administrator.
Be direct and upfront. My daughter was being bullied by another student. I didn’t agree with how the issue was handled and I spoke to the teacher upon learning about what transpired between my daughter and the other little girl. The teacher mentioned that she wasn’t there when it happened. Due to the seriousness of the bullying incident, I told the teacher that I wanted to schedule a meeting with the program director. I was clear in how I thought the situation should be handled. I kept my thoughts clear and concise. I was respectful, but I also meant business.
Follow up. Check in periodically to find out how things are going. I don’t necessarily wait for parent teachers conference night to find out how my child is doing.
Show gratitude. Teaching is one of the toughest jobs. Saying thank you or giving your child’s teacher a small token of appreciation speaks volumes.
Ultimately, this is a team effort and communication is key. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Parent teacher relationships also take time to build. It’s also very important to speak to your children about their day. When it comes to babies and toddlers, watch for signs. You can tell a lot by a child’s body language and behavior. Another important piece of advice, don’t bash anyone on social media.
I talk more about how to resolve parent teacher conflicts in my latest #periscope. Please be sure to follow @weatheranchorma for more scopes.
