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On the Same Team
Forging A Partnership with Your Child's Preschool Teacher By Judy Molland
What If There's A Problem?
As a parent, you also have the right to ask for a conference if you sense a problem with your child at school. It is far better to deal with an issue when it arises, rather than wait and have it get out of hand. Farber recommends that parents call to ask for a meeting, stating the reason for the conference but avoiding any lengthy discussion on the phone. She also suggests that once you make that appointment with the teacher, it's a good idea to write down the things you want to be sure to discuss with the teacher, in case you forget something. And be sure to take along a pad and pencil. It may be that during the course of the conference you hear something you don't like from the teacher. In this case, if you cannot get satisfaction from the teacher, you should take your concerns to the director of the school. Staying In Touch
As the year progresses, you will want to maintain parent-teacher communication. Even if you don't have a particular concern about your child, you can always write a brief note of thanks when you see something you really like. Teachers like to see that someone notices what they are doing -- they are only human, after all! And parents can also be involved as resources, perhaps talking to the class about a trip, or how to celebrate a holiday. There may also be parent nights, meetings at night for parents who are working during the day, and it's important to attend those, as well as scheduled conferences. Parents and teachers agree that teachers need parents' help to do a first-class job. Working together, you and your child's teacher can help your child have a great preschool year.