Parent-teacher team building early facilitates the continuation of the good start through the rest of the year!
Great suggestions for starting things off on a positive note when school begins! (Part 1)
Meet and Greet the Teacher
Try to meet with your child’s teacher before classes start. Many teachers are available getting their rooms ready for a few days before start of the school year. If you can meet, take refreshments!
Make a Folder about Your Child
Make a folder with a few pages of information about your child. This is a great place to put your child’s picture. Don’t use the regular school photo. Choose a photo of your child taking part in a favorite activity. This makes your child a real person and provides additional information.
Include a copy of your child’s IEP. While it may be tempting to go through it or highlight portions for the teacher, resist this impulse. This gives the teacher the respect of assuming she will read it and note important points.
Bring your own IEP copy with highlighted points when you meet with the teacher. The teacher may notice and ask about the highlighted portions. This gives you the chance to reinforce important information, without seeming to tell the teacher how to do her job.
Add a page of information you may have gleaned from last year’s teacher. This is information teacher’s often do not get. Indicate what worked well with your child and any other positive points from that year. You might include 1 or 2 examples of your child’s work, either from home or last school year. Pick ones that highlight noticeable progress or special talents.
Offer Your Help
Answer questions. Indicate your willingness to your child’s teacher to answer any questions she might have about your child. Provide your contact information, especially email. Many times this is the most convenient way for teachers to pass on comments or questions. It also provides documentation for your own files. If you provide phone contact information, include the best time to reach you.
Be sure to record all contacts in your contact log. https://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/advo.create.trails.htm#logs
Volunteer to help. Ask about any needs the teacher has in the classroom, for volunteers, extra supplies, etc.
I used to hit some of the sales where supplies are crazy cheap and give the teacher a package of extra pencils, paper, glue sticks, paper towels, or facial tissues. Many times schools no longer supply these and teachers end up buying them out of their own pockets. Even if you bring in only a few things, it lets the teacher know you intend support, not conflict.
Write a Thank You Note
Follow your meeting with the teacher with a thank you note. Find at least one positive characteristic of this teacher to mention. Even if it is her great smile, or kind tone of voice, whatever you can find. Everyone has some positive things about them.
Ready, Set, Go! Get a Positive Start this School Year (Part 2)
This seems like a positive way to touch base with teachers without catching them off guard. You can committ to be positive in the actions taken or you can be reactive to any inactions. It would seem that making yourself known by letting the teacher know you are on your child’s side, as well as theirs, could pave the way to a great year. I know that in my district it could take a while to get a copy of an IEP, but by resonding with gifts (the copy) will make everyone’s job that much easier.