3 "Back to School" Teacher Tips

I know I am no expert.  But being a special ed teacher I feel has put me close enough to regular classrooms to see and appreciate their teachers (and see their faults), and far enough away to stay objective. Whether or not you want my back to school reminders, they've been weighing on my mind for a while. So, wrote it down.
 
1. Help Out! Not everyone can go to the school every day to read and file papers. Obviously! You work, you have other kids, and everyone's lives are packed. But there are really great reasons you should help out in the classroom whenever you possibly can.  1) Your kid loves to see you there. It's worth making arrangements to show up once in a while to show them you care and want to be involved. And maybe dispel that feeling they might get that you are relieved to see them go be someone else's problem for the next 6 hours. (Which, lets be honest, may be the case some mornings!)  2) The teacher appreciates your help. Yes, they get paid to do what they do. But have you ever heard the term "You get more bees with honey?" If you want them to go the extra mile with your kid, be tolerant and helpful when they struggle, it really wouldn't hurt to help them out. Show them what going the extra mile looks like, you will not be sorry.

2. Don't demand the best. You may think you disagree with me, but hear me out. When our kids demand that everything is "FAIR" all the time, it drives us crazy, right? Can you imagine trying to run a school with 600 parents all demanding what they get is exactly what they want. Ugh. SO glad I'm not a principal. Try this on for size.  When you don't get the teacher you wanted, didn't get put in your friend's class, or preferred to have Art 7th period instead of 1st period, just be graceful. Take it. Do you tell your kids, "You get what you get and don't throw a fit?" Because we expect our kids to be good sports when they get a red Otter Pop instead of blue, we can also be examples and stop the whining when things don't turn out our way.  Invaluable traits are cultivated when you tell your kid, "I'm sorry you didn't get Mrs. Richards. And maybe it's true Mr. Johnson is harder to get along with, but if you work hard and keep a good attitude, this year will be just as good with him." Because guess what - it's true. They can do hard things. And furthermore, you want your child to learn to get along with all different personalities, you want him to learn how to cope in all situations, and you do want them to take life stresses, learn from them, and move on. So, don't take away the opportunities for them to learn those things. They will grow.


3.  It's not "Teachers vs. Parents." Sometimes teachers and parents are pitted against each other. Teachers spend just about as much face time with your child as you do! Believe it or not, they love your kid. Just like having separated parents who cannot say a nice thing about each other, it can be damaging for you to say terrible things about their teacher.  Show respect. Again, be an example. I have heard people tell their children, "Your teacher is completely wrong! Don't listen to her!!" Or, "If your teacher thinks that, then she's not so smart herself!" Um. Wow. If you do this, then don't be surprised when your 8th grader has respect issues, a bad attitude about school, and cannot get along with his teacher. You may disagree with their teacher once in a while. But try to see both sides of the coin.  The way you handle it will show your child how to deal with them as well. Think about who is watching you! You love your kid too much to encourage disrespectful behavior or bad attitudes. :)


*Note
I completely understand there are special circumstances! Kids who struggle academically may need a certain place (that's kind of my specialty!) or whose lives are in upheaval need to be looked after. And nothing makes me happier than hearing a mom felt "led" to change their child's teacher or circumstance, especially when it turns out to be the biggest blessing their child could have had during their struggle. Bless your heart and your mommy-sense! Good luck this year!