It’s a new school year. Your child is in a new homeroom with a new homeroom teacher who faces a classroom filled with students she doesn’t know. How do you get the teacher to positively set your child apart in her mind? Well the best way is through some genuine appreciation for what she does!
A teacher’s job is often not one full of rewarding experiences. In a time when students are expected to achieve high standards for the school, and yet the teachers are not given anywhere near the resource allocation they need to deliver teaching, the teachers often have to depend on parents for both time and financial support. They also spend a lot of additional hours planning their curriculum, and use their own money to finance interesting projects that will get their students enthusiastic about what they’re learning. This additional effort is still often unappreciated by either the school, or the students – but if your child’s teacher is going that extra mile, then it shouldn’t go unappreciated by you.
It doesn’t require big gestures of expensive floral arrangements, or even flowery letters of thanks. At the beginning of the school year make sure that you take the time to introduce yourself to the teacher, identify which of the children is yours, and tell them that you will support your child’s learning experience anyway you can. Back this up by committing to at least one request that the teacher makes for help during each semester. An occasional note to say how much you appreciate the extra time she spent ensuring that your child learned an important grammar rule or that you’ve noticed a positive change in your child’s attitude to school since they joined her class is a way of keeping the communication between you open. You could accompany the note with a box of home baked cookies if you have some ready. At the end of the semester, send a thank you card to the teacher for her efforts with your son throughout the year and accompany this with a small amount gift certificate for a local coffee shop or gift store. It’s not the amount that’s important, it’s the fact that you care enough about her work that you’ve taken the time to do this.
The result of your appreciating the teacher is that even though she won’t single your child out from the others, she will take more interest in his progression and will learn more about him and in doing so will be able to find ways to make his learning experience with her even more positive. She may even turn a blind eye to occasional behavioral misconduct!
Be careful not to cross the thin line between appreciation and what could be termed as either insincerity or even bribery! Teachers are used to parents who want to single out their child for special attention. They know this isn’t about them, but rather about their parent’s desire for their child to be better cared for than the others! Keep your appreciation genuine, never request special treatment, and never ask her to overlook something or to inflate a grade. Whenever you talk to her, remember to ask how she is, and wishing her a nice evening or weekend is going to leave a far better impression of you (and as a consequence your child) than effusive praise for her extraordinary ability to teach!
Teachers are people too. Remember that, and show occasional appropriate appreciation, and you’ll be able to enhance your child’s learning experience in her class. At the beginning of the next school year, remember to start the process all over again with the next teacher your child comes into contact with!
