Published September 1, 2020
The new school year is in full swing, and we’re getting off to a great start!
Still, things are very different this year, and parents have had a lot of questions. You may be wondering if you should take the initiative to introduce yourself to your child’s new teacher.
Even with distance-learning, where you might not be able to meet the teacher in person, it’s always a good idea to touch base with your child’s new teacher at the beginning of the year. Why? It opens a line of communication and support you can rely on.
Your child is going to be with this teacher all year. Even though their connection will be spent online, they will be spending a lot of time interacting together. Introducing yourself is an important way to build a community around your child.
Opening up a line of communication for the upcoming year let’s your child know that you and their teacher are looking out for the same results: your child’s success.
Introducing yourself to new teachers will ensure that everyone is on the same page and make contact with each other in the future a bit easier.
You can give the teacher a better understanding of your child.
Rest assured, your child’s teacher is excited to get to know them. But starting off cold can make getting to know all the children a bit tough at the beginning of a new school year. Teachers work hard to get to know all of their students in a short period of time so they can focus on tailoring their approach to each child’s unique abilities.
Distance learning can make this even more difficult because teachers have to get to know your child through a screen rather than being able to physically interact with them. By taking the time to introduce yourself to their new teacher, you can let that teacher know any information that might help them educate your child more effectively.
If your child needs any special accommodations or faces challenges that should be known to the teacher, it can help to bring it up yourself right away rather than let the teacher figure it out later. Preparing your child’s teacher to work with your child will benefit everyone including you, your child, and the teacher.
It gives you a chance to ask questions. Although it’s our children starting a new year with a new teacher, that change has a large impact on our lives as parents as well.
Different teachers have different expectations. You may have questions about what you can do during this year to make sure your child meets those expectations and makes the most out of this school year. Introducing yourself to your child’s new teacher creates a natural opportunity to ask a few questions and create a dialog with them.
It allows you to introduce yourself on good terms, so you don’t meet this teacher for the first time if something goes wrong. At some point during the school year, you’re going to have to address something or talk to your child’s teacher for a specific reason. So, rather than waiting until that point a few months into the school year, why not introduce yourself in the beginning?
Teachers understand who you are. You won’t have to take the time to introduce yourself while also addressing an issue you or your child might have. But having a prior relationship makes communication – especially around a difficult topic – and finding a solution much easier.
Your child is going to be spending a lot of time with this teacher, even if they are doing online or distance learning. Making sure their teacher knows who you are and how to contact you is crucial to your child’s success.
Tags: distance learning, new school year, parent teacher relationship