3 Ways to Build a Relationship with Your Child’s Teachers

Having a good relationship with your child’s teachers is a great idea. It allows you to stay in the loop about what’s going on in the classroom and makes communication much more effective. Actually maintaining this relationship can be difficult if you have never had a child in school, though. Below are a few ways you can help to build a healthy relationship with your child’s teacher.

Stay in Contact

Having a relationship with a teacher generally starts with communication. Introduce yourself to your child’s teachers during registration and send an e-mail from time to time. If your child’s teacher sends a note home, send your own in reply. The teacher will know that you care about what’s going on in class and will be much more likely to reach out to you in the future.

Support the Classroom

Teachers are often short on funds, both due to low salary and what they’re required to pay out of pocket for their classrooms. Donating funds for your teacher is a great way to let the teacher know you care and that you are involved in your child’s education.

You can also contribute to a #ClearTheLists GoFundMe campaign for teachers to submit their classroom wish lists. The hope is to pay for some of the teachers’ supplies through donations. Alternatively, you can organize a fundraiser with the Family Organizer to help with classroom supplies every year.

If you’re not able to be at the school frequently, this might also be one of the best ways to let a teacher know that you are an involved parent.

Be a Volunteer

If you don’t want to donate, you can also cultivate a great relationship by becoming a volunteer. Teachers quickly grow to know those parents who show up regularly, so the best way to get to know a teacher is to be present. Try to be a chaperone for field trips or even volunteer to help with some office tasks—you’ll get to know all your child’s teachers quickly when you’re at the school.

Respect Appropriate Relationships

As much as you’d like to stay close to your child’s teachers, it’s important that you maintain a certain amount of distance in the relationship. You should absolutely support him or her in his or her educational endeavors, but don’t try to take control of the classroom. Remember, your child’s teacher is a trained professional—your help is appreciated, but the teacher still has to run the classroom.

Creating a healthy relationship with your child’s teacher can be as easy as staying in communication and showing up to the school. If you’re an involved parent, you’ll almost certainly have an easier time getting along with your child’s teacher. From there, you can ensure you’ll be able to work together in order to help your child succeed.

By Brooke Chaplan

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan