Connect for Success: Building Positive Relationships with your Child’s Teachers

A new school year means a new teacher, and this provides an opportunity for you and your child to connect with that teacher to pave the way for social and academic success.

It’s back to school time! Every new school year presents exciting opportunities for your child, whether returning to a familiar school or transitioning to a new one. You’ll want to set your child up for success, and doing so means establishing a positive working relationship with your child’s teacher.

What the research shows:

Research shows a strong relationship between parental involvement and student academic achievement (Jeynes, 2005). It also indicates that the transition to school is improved with increased parental involvement (Kraft-Sayre & Pianta, 2003). Establishing positive relationships between you and your child’s teachers can enable better understanding of your child’s specific strengths and needs. This is particularly important as a parent of a child with hearing loss as they enter each new school experience.

Why is it so important?

• Your Child’s Story: You know your child better than anyone. You can tell your child’s story directly to their teacher and establish a personal connection, or your child can tell their own story.
• Technology Matters! Its essential that your child’s teacher recognizes the importance of well-functioning technology so your child always has the best listening/learning experience.
• Knowing What to Expect: If your child is familiar with the classroom and school expectations before school starts, they’ll be set up for success in the classroom and beyond.
• Setting High Expectations: You’ll want your child’s teachers to hold the bar high for social and academic achievement. In many cases, children with hearing loss are performing as well as or better than their hearing peers.
• Fostering Social-Emotional Success: Social-emotional development is a critical consideration for children with hearing loss and skills are often facilitated in the school environment to assure your child with hearing loss is developing healthy and lasting relationships with peers.

In this handout we share tips, strategies and key discussion points for establishing and maintaining a positive relationship with your child’s teacher. Every intentional effort is a step toward your child’s academic success, and this handout will help guide your discussion and set the foundation for positive and productive communication with your child’s teacher.

Get more information on how to connect with your child's teacher.

Download the handout here

More on the Web:

• The Parent Teacher Partnership
• Why It’s Important to Partner With Your Child’s Teacher