Establishing a
Parent-Teacher Relationship

The first contact with your child's teacher, in many ways, is the most important, This is the time you are building rapport and developing a relationship of trust. Therefore, an appropriate time and setting is important for the first brief encounter. A phone call, a note, or, best of all, an initial face-to-face meeting is best. A good time to contact your child's teacher is during the first week of school. This gives you an opportunity to meet one another when neither has any complaints. Otherwise, the first teacher contact can be unpleasant. The teacher is usually calling to describe some unacceptable behavior or report a child's tack of progress and her concern that a learning problem may exist. This kind of contact usually puts a parent on the defensive, and communication can be hampered. Neither party wins, and the biggest loser is your child.

However, during the first week of school, the teacher probably knows very little about your child. Thus, you are in a position to provide some helpful information. This is the time to mention then identify these. And, last but not least, assure the teacher that she has your full support and cooperation. Provide the teacher with your phone number and tell her to feel free to call when help is needed from home. Let the teacher know from the start that you want to work with her, not against her, so your child will learn. Do not feel you are intruding or asking for special treatment. You are simply indicating that you are truly concerned that your child receives a good education.

After your child has spent six weeks in school, again call or drop a note to check on your child's progress. If a conference needs to be set up, do it immediately. Even if your child is doing well, you may still want a conference. If your child is in kindergarten or first-grade, die following questions may be the most appropriate:

1. Is my child able to get along with others?
2. Can my child participate well in group activities?
3. What can I do to encourage or help my child learn to read?
4. Can you describe my child's reading program?
5. In second and third grade you may want to ask these additional questions:
6. Is my child experiencing difficulty with any specific skills? If so, what are they! How can we help him with these skills?
7. Is my child experiencing any difficulty that may hinder him in the future?

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