Teachers: What to Remind Parents Back at School

Regina Thomas 3m 751 #backtoschool

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Teachers have a great responsibility of teaching kids and preparing them for adult life, as do parents. Ideally, parents and teachers should work together to streamline kids’ education at school and at home.

Teachers know best when it comes to education, so it is upon them to guide their students’ parents. Here is an overview of essential reminders that make for a good start.

To expect more from their kids

It is impressive how fast kids grow and learn. However, this may not always seem like the case, especially for parents with many things to juggle between home and work. This is why many parents tend to go too easy on their kids – it is out of love, but it may also be out of concern that their kids cannot take a challenge.

Kids will always surprise you with what they can do, based on your expectations of them. Teachers understand this well as they have seen it lots of times, but parents are naturally biased. As such, try to get parents to see the potential in their kids. There should be two key lessons for the parents to take away from this: they should encourage their kids to be better, let their kids handle reasonable challenges.

To be involved in their kids’ schoolwork

Learning does not stop when kids walk out of the school gates. Kids need to study on their own at home, hence homework. However, most kids wouldn’t do their homework or study at all without some supervision and encouragement. Parents are the only ones who can supervise and encourage at home, and teachers should make them understand this.

Teachers should encourage parents to be involved in their kids’ homework and home study schedules. This includes being involved in making their home study schedule and helping them with their homework.

However, parents should not overdo it – overdoing it can involve being too strict with overseeing home study or helping them with every question on the list. This is why parents should remember that their kids can do it themselves and learn when to step back.

To have their school supplies ready

It is always inconveniencing or embarrassing when kids show up to school late or forget essential supplies at home. It doesn’t look good on their parents, and it impedes proper learning for the kids. Kids are still learning how to be responsible, so it is up to their parents to prepare and maintain their school supplies – and, most importantly, prepare their kids for school. Teachers should especially emphasize school name labels to prevent mix-up of students’ supplies and the confusion that results.

To teach responsibility

Books can only teach so much. Kids need to be well-rounded if they are to excel in today’s increasingly dynamic and challenging world. This involves learning how to be responsible, among other essential life lessons. School is excellent for learning literacy and some degree of responsibility, but home is the perfect place for teaching this vital life lesson.

Teachers should help parents see that teaching their kids how to be responsible is easy. It can be taught via adherence to everyday chores, such as cleaning their rooms and doing the dishes. It can also be taught by introducing kids to the real world via part-time jobs with their parents’ consent and support. Experts recommend a risk/reward approach for motivation.

To maintain open lines for communication

Proper communication is necessary for every environment that involves human interaction. It is important to establish open communication lines between all parties involved in the kids’ education, including the teachers and kids’ parents.

First, teachers should encourage parents to foster open communication at home. They should be open (but prudent) when communicating with their kids, and they should also encourage their kids to tell them everything. There are many things that kids don’t understand, and it is their parents’ responsibility to help them come to terms with reality.

Secondly, teachers should maintain open lines of communication with their students’ parents. They should share their concerns and opinions of their students’ performances and actively encourage parents to be involved in all decision-making.

It’s for the Kids Welfare

Every interaction between teachers and their students’ parents should be for the kids’ welfare. These are basic reminders, but they are also the foundation for cohesive and streamlined learning at home.

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