What To Do When You Need To Talk With Your Child's Teacher......

I recently found myself in the unusual position of needing to speak to my son’s teacher about a concern regarding an incident that occurred in the classroom. My first reaction was to fire off an email to share my concern and this would have arrived in her inbox at about midnight after spending hours coming up with my own version of events without any real information. You see, I can spend my days offering advice on parenting, families, and children then in a split second, all logic, knowledge and experience go out the window as I become the protective Mumma-Bear needing answers immediately. Sam is our youngest and he has learning difficulties so the anxiety and worry for me was at an all-time high this night.

Fortunately for me, I have many Educator friends who reminded me to practice what I preach and relax until I get more information. I was reminded that Sam attends an exceptional school who know him and his needs well and it is important to give his much-loved teachers the opportunity to fill in the blanks and help me through this, which is exactly what they did.

As I left the classroom after his teacher gave up her time to sit with me and work out a plan moving forward and reassess his goals for the coming term, I was reminded of how important it is to be advocates for our children, listen to our parental intuition but also work in partnership with your child’s teacher and their support network. A good Educator will always want what’s best for your child and will support them to reach their potential, so here are a few steps to consider if you have concerns about your child at school.

Disclaimer – I may not have followed this so well myself but will do better and know this is key to getting the best outcomes for our children.

1. Write down your concerns on paper, do not send off an upset email until you have more information.
2. Arrange a phone call or meeting with your child’s teacher to get all the information and go into the meeting with your questions prepared.
3. Be careful about how much is discussed in front of a child and what information and emotion you share with your child. Wait until you have all the information and a plan. Common sense and good judgement are needed here.
4. Remember the lessons we are teaching our children and follow them ourselves. Respect and a sense of calm are essential.
5. Lastly, if it still doesn’t feel right and you continue to have concerns, seek the help of the right person. This may be a head teacher or the school principal.

Being a parent is the hardest job you will ever have but it’s also the best,

Mel x

Mum to Mitch (15), Austin (14) and Sam (7)