The parent – teacher interaction is crucial for the overall development of children. The teacher is the first person to witness a child’s ups and downs, following their parents. However, the bond that kids have with a single instructor is rare. Children may have the same or different class or topic instructors each year, therefore parents’ attitudes toward the school and teachers are greatly influenced by their communication with them.
When teachers experience high levels of stress due to management and parents’ questions, this may have an impact on the students as well.
Before speaking with a teacher, parents should keep a few things in mind to ensure that they are both communicating about the child’s overall development.
Here are a few things parents should consider before having a conversation.
The teacher is not a wizard
Every parent has a right to anticipate certain things from the administration or school because they have paid fees. The teacher will support your child in doing her best because she is aware of her abilities. To relieve your child from the necessary pressure and tension, be aware of your child’s potential and set reasonable expectations.
Remember that a teacher must manage 40 to 50 students in a class and that just as parents prioritise one or two of their children, the entire class needs to receive the same level of attention.
Each parent is equally responsible for their child’s academic performance
Maybe the teacher’s role is the primary one, but you need to play an active role too. And, accusations such as, ‘That’s what you’re paid for are very rude and discourteous. When you talk about such things in front of your children, they carry the same attitude in school and thereafter disobedience might be seen in them.
The teacher is responsible yet detaching from your child is not appreciated
“Do whatever you want to do with my son/daughter, I don’t care, it’s your responsibility to look after him/her”. We often hear these statements which hint parents are too careless about a child’s actions. You have completely given a chance to look after your child to the teacher, but it is always appreciable when you as a parent take one step ahead and ask things like “I know something needs to be corrected in my child’s behaviour, let us work together to sort out the issue would be good initiation.
A teacher feels responsible for her students and expects you to support her in helping your child
Giving up on your child makes him/her feel abandoned, making it more difficult for the teacher to work with a discouraged and neglected child. So when you are called for a PTA meeting or counselling session, the important thing you need to remember is you are being called for the child’s growth and better future so both teacher and parents’ hands are required to complete this task.
It is always appreciated when parents go above and beyond and say things like, “I know something has to be fixed in my child’s conduct. Let us work together to sort out the issue would be wonderful beginning.” You have entirely given the instructor the opportunity to care for your child. A teacher is invested in her children and counts on your assistance to support your child’s learning. It’s harder for the instructor to work with a youngster who feels abandoned when you give up on him/her which makes them discouraged and ignored.
The key thing to keep in mind when you receive a call for a PTA meeting or counselling session is that it is for the benefit of your child’s development and a better future and therefore both the teacher’s and the parents’ hands are needed to achieve this duty.
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