Ten Ways to Communicate with Teachers

• 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