Time to Meet Your Child’s Teacher

As summer vacation ends, thoughts turn to school supplies, dress codes, registration (endless repetitious paperwork), bus schedules, before/after-school providers, homework, tests—and “Meet the Teacher.”

Having been a teacher for over 20 years, my thoughts turn to school at the end of July and the beginning of August, even though I no longer have children in school.

But I still remember when my husband and I were preparing to enroll our son in a private preschool. My only experience with teachers before that had been as a student. It was a guessing game as I went from school to school asking questions I thought were pertinent.

Every year the scenario changed a little bit, but the bottom line was always the same—my only child was being entrusted to someone I knew little about for a big chunk of his waking day.

There must have been some information I could have tapped into that would have helped me with this process, but I wasn’t aware of it. I felt lost and even afraid to ask questions sometimes. There was so much I didn’t know.

But I did know the things I considered very important:

• Safety.
• Age-appropriate and timely education.
• Social and emotional development.
• Monitoring, ensuring and communicating our child’s progress with us.

Facts about teachers

Perhaps if I had just realized a few things about the teachers, it would have helped. So here are a few things to consider:

• The best way to begin a new school year is with prayer. Ask God to place your child in the best setting for him or her.
• You have been and will continue to be the No. 1 teacher of your child—that will never stop.
• Teachers realize you are entrusting them with a most important member of your family.
• Creating a partnership with the teacher will go a long way toward ensuring your child’s success.
• Your child’s teacher is human just like you. His or her expertise falls in the area of education because of his or her educational training—just as you have training in your vocation.
• He or she probably has children and knows the emotional spectrum you are going through.
• Most teachers love their jobs.
• Don’t judge this teacher by a past experience.

Tips for when you meet the teacher

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you meet the teacher.

• Attend the Meet the Teacher event if at all possible. This meeting gives you a chance to make a first impression and also get a first impression of your child’s new teacher.
• As an elementary school teacher, I appreciate parents bringing their child with them to Meet the Teacher so I can make a visual connection between family members. If both parents can attend, that is great. This is especially valuable when last names are different. And I love to revisit with siblings who were in my class years before.
• Plan on spending about five minutes (realizing the teacher has 22 or more parents to meet and greet in the hour or so block of time). You could give the teacher pertinent information about your child. This information could be written down to save time and placed in an envelope for confidentiality (even though it seems like you have filled it out a thousand times on the registration papers!). Be sure to put your child’s name on it. The information could include:
  • Medical information (i.e., allergies—including food, meds, any history that could possibly be an issue in the school year).
  • Likes (to be called “Bill” instead of William, to sit in front, to read, to do math, etc.).
  • Tendencies (be realistic about talkativeness, restroom needs, avoidance of a particular type of assignment, being picked on or bullying).
  • Your personal expectations for your child. Both you and the teacher share a commitment to seeing your child succeed.
  • Mention upcoming absences for God’s festivals if appropriate. Follow up with details later.
  • Thank the teacher for his or her dedication and the efforts you see he or she has already put into making this a great year. You could mention compliments you have heard about the teacher from others who have been in his or her class, how organized the room is, special efforts to make parents feel welcome, etc. Find something to give a sincere compliment about. Teachers can spot fakery just like you can.
  • Let the teacher know how to get in touch with you.
• Above all, apply the Golden Rule. If you want the teacher to cut you some slack, cut him or her some slack. Go in with an open mind and expect the best. As you continue to get acquainted during the school year, you’ll undoubtedly encounter situations where you might want to assume the worst. Instead, please ask for the facts about the situation and listen to what actually happened. As my husband says, “No matter how thin the flap jack, there is another side.”

I am looking forward to another awesome year with 22 of the world’s most precious resources. I hope your school year is awesome too!

Susan Scott Smith has been a teacher for more than 20 years and is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in Texas.