Being a parent and sending your child to school can be somewhat intimidating. As parents, we all want the best for our children, and part of that is making sure their teachers know them. Sharing important details with your child’s teacher is the first step in building a positive relationship. This helps create a nurturing atmosphere that encourages growth and learning. Use this blog to gain a sense of what should be discussed with your child’s teachers, who are an extension of your parenting support system.
Identify your child’s personal interests and strengths
Every child is unique and has their own interests and strengths. Maybe your child loves dinosaurs, reads fantasy novels, or has a knack for drawing. The teacher can establish a stronger connection with your child by sharing these passions. A teacher’s understanding of their child’s innate interests can make learning enjoyable and engaging, particularly when it involves the subject matter in question. Learning with enthusiasm is always a simpler task for educating aspiring learners.
Challenges and areas for improvement
On the flip side, it’s beneficial to discuss with your child any areas where they may require some extra assistance. They may find maths difficult, have trouble concentrating, or worry about exams. This is not labelling the child or pointing out shortcomings. It means alerting the teacher to be ready to offer help where it is needed. The teachers can then modify their approach and provide further guidance and methods to help your child overcome these obstacles. As a parent, you will also need to be brutally honest about what your child’s strengths and weaknesses might be. This helps everyone address the problem quickly and make improvements rather than denying that a problem exists. Knowing when to act, and when to be restrained is a point of tact and emotional understanding of your child’s personality. You along with the teachers can help assess what is genuinely easy and what might be challenging or something that your child for example needs some cajoling on.
1. Health and well-being of your child
The educator should know of any health issues, regardless of how serious they are. This covers any allergies, asthma, or prescription drugs your kid may require. Sleeping and eating patterns are examples of key habits. It will be easier for the teacher to understand why your child could have been bored in the first place if, for example, they struggle with early lessons and are not a morning person. The teacher can be cautious with snacks or class gatherings if they have dietary limitations. It’s critical that educators know exactly what is expected of your child during the school day. This is even more important if your child is enrolled in residential school. While at DPS Warangal, we have rigorous intake mechanisms, it doesn’t hurt to reiterate any developments.
2. Social dynamics affect your child
A child’s social life plays a large role in his or her educational experience. If your child is introverted, has trouble making friends, or shares a special bond with someone in the classroom, the teacher should be aware. This can promote positive social relationships and increase the teacher’s awareness of potential problems. If they prefer sitting with someone, it’s helpful to inform the teacher so the teacher can also make decisions to help your child adjust to others, or help him/her feel comfortable. This is useful if your child is changing schools and is just about getting adjusted to a new school environment and friends. For example, if you tell a teacher if your child is being bullied, they can follow up and make sure they feel protective and supported.
3. Changing family situations
A child’s conduct and academic success are influenced by family. Notifying the teacher about significant events in your child’s life, including a recent move, the arrival of a new sibling, or other life changes might aid them in understanding behavioural or emotional shifts in your student. This is about giving the teacher the context they need to support your child more effectively, not about you thinking back on personal matters. Teachers are therefore in a better position to offer your child the emotional support they might require during these changes.
What aspects should you focus on informing the teacher about?
You may find yourself wondering what to discuss during the parent teacher meetings. The objective of the meetings is to create a collaborative partnership between the parents and the teachers, and the school to help your child excel in school, in all spheres of life –whether it’s academically, personality wise, or co-curricular activities. Therefore, giving your child’s teacher some insights into your child is a good starting point to help them make sense of how your child is behaving and how to handle them at different points through the course of the academic year.
1. Communication preferences
Clear communication between parents and teachers is important. Tell the teacher the best way to contact you, whether it’s by email, phone, or the school’s messaging app. For example, at DPS Warangal, parents receive timely messages via WhatsApp. As the communication ecosystem evolves, we make it a point to keep evolving our communication style. This makes it easy to monitor your child’s progress and problems. Regular updates help you stay on top of what’s happening in the classroom and how your child is doing.
2. Behavioural insights
Every child behaves differently, and what works at home can provide valuable information. If certain strategies help calm or motivate your child, sharing them with the teacher can make a big difference in a dynamic classroom. For example, if a certain reward system works well at home, a teacher can implement something similar in the classroom. Knowing that your child doesn’t respond well to certain types of behaviour is a helpful insight for teachers to have.
3. Learning style
Learning methods are not universal among children. A few individuals have visual comprehension, whereas others can grasp concepts more by experiencing activities or listening. When your child’s teacher believes that their learning style is effective, they should share this information with them to help change their teaching style. This is something you may observe early on, or notice changes. Keeping the teacher updated is helpful to let them know how your child is changing their learning habits. Also ask this as a question during PTA meetings to get a detailed understanding of how your child learns.
4. Hopes and goals
Communicate your child’s desired outcomes and goals with their teacher to gain insight into this process. If you have a clear idea of what you want your child to achieve, teachers can assist in planning for academic progression, social interaction, and personal development. The knowledge shared between siblings can have a significant impact on your child’s growth throughout the year.
5. Academic history
Sharing some of your child’s academic history when your child is changing schools, or changing classes is useful for a teacher to know. If your child has struggled with certain subjects in the past or if they’ve had a history of excelling in others, this information can help the teacher tailor their approach. It can also help in setting realistic expectations and goals for the year. This in turn also helps the teacher and the rest of the academic staff manage their expectations from the child –whether to motivate your child or to push them that tiny bit harder if they’re likely to excel; these are the kind of insights that help teachers truly partner with you in your child’s developmental journey.
What motivates your child?
Providing your child with academic credentials can be beneficial. If your child has previously struggled with some subjects or excelled in others, this information can help the teacher adjust their approach. Moreover, it can facilitate the creation of realistic objectives and expectations for What drives your child? It’s a valuable lesson for teachers to learn about their motivation. Some children are motivated by praise, others by a sense of achievement, and still others by a tangible reward. Sharing your knowledge about a child’s motivation can help a teacher effectively encourage and inspire them.
1. Peer relationships
Teachers can better manage the social dynamics of the classroom by being aware of a child’s relationships with peers. The teacher can use this information to create a constructive social atmosphere by telling the student that he has close friends or that he has had conflicts with certain students. It can help ensure a relaxed learning atmosphere by arranging seating and group activities. Inform the teacher about your child’s family illness, stress, or other personal issues and discuss them together. In this situation, the teacher can offer more help and understanding if your child is experiencing difficulties at school.
2. Parent-teacher collaboration
By collaborating with the teacher, you can create a favourable atmosphere for the school year. Tell the teacher that you want to support your child’s learning and address any issues that arise and that you are committed to working together for your child’s success. A cooperative approach can result in a more favourable and upbeat connection between home and school.
3. Celebrating successes
Lastly, make sure to show your appreciation for your child’s achievements by sharing them with the teacher. Acknowledging your child’s accomplishments, whether minor or significant, can contribute to their overall development and encourage them to reach their full potential. Don’t forget to thank the teacher for their support—it shows that you are invested and appreciate their dedication.
Sharing this important information with your child’s teacher helps build a strong partnership focused on supporting your child’s learning and well-being. The key to a successful and productive school experience is maintaining open, collaborative communication. At Delhi Public School Warangal, we believe that working closely with teachers is essential in helping students achieve their goals. By fostering this partnership, we ensure that your child is on the right path toward growth and success.