Pick up the phone for occasional 5 to 10 minute
"catch-up" conversations between formal parent-teacher conferences.
Make an appointment and have specific questions
prepared to discuss with teachers and administrators.
Share your wishes and worries about your child so
you and the teacher can compare observations, and set goals and
expectations together.
Ask for advice about your child's behavior
problems, homework difficulties, and how to reinforce at home what's
learned at school.
Respond to report cards by sending the teacher a
note if you're pleased with your child's progress or by asking what
you can do to help your child improve if the grade or comments are
disappointing to you.
Get with the program by attending school
conferences, as well as other meetings and programs that allow you to
make contact with your child's teacher and other school staff.
Find out what your child's learning and what the
academic expectations are each year.
Seek a translator if language differences are
preventing good communication between you and a teacher. Your child or
another bilingual family member may serve as a translator. Translators
can also be found among the school's staff, members of your local PTA,
or other community organizers.
Provide information to the teachers about major
changes in home circumstances that may affect your children's behavior
or performance.
Send thank-you notes to the teacher whenever your child demonstrates new skills or expresses excitement about something that happened in school discussions repeatedly.
Source: The National PTA Newsletter (Volume 2 / Issue 2 / Winter 2002)
