Handling your child’s school stuff can be a lot to handle! But with one simple parent trick, you can stop school stress in its tracks.
Use this easy trick to help your child find success at school, too!
Stop School Stress with this One Super Simple Parent Tip!
Earlier this month, I shared a quick fix for your emails.
Writing emails using the sandwich method makes it easier for teachers to get the message and stay on your side. Making this quick fix can boost your confidence and empower you to advocate more effectively for your child.
If you tried that method, but still aren’t quite getting the results you want, it’s time to step up your game. Again.
You need to hit refresh on your relationship with the teacher.
This is not going to be easy, especially if you’ve been having a rocky school year. But if you’re super stressed out at school, this is 100% worth it!
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I’m going to ask that you take a step back and a deep breath.
Think about how the school year started.
- Were you coming off a rough summer or had the previous grade been hard?
- Did you just receive an IEP?
- What was happening at home?
All of these factors can color our view of the world and influence how we handle school.
I’m asking you to try again.
First things first: email the teacher using the sandwich method. Write:
“Hi (Teacher),
I really enjoyed watching my child learn about (insert topic, project, whatever here). S/he seemed really engaged and excited!
I want to touch base with you and schedule a meeting so that we can get on the same page. I am usually available (insert your best days and times here).
I’m excited to work together to help (Child) succeed to his/her fullest potential in (grade).
Sincerely,
(Your Name)”
Some of this might be stretching the truth just a smidge. Your kid wasn’t THAT excited about the last math unit!
But it serves a greater purpose: setting a positive tone for your meeting.
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Keep the meeting light and positive.
No matter what, you want this meeting to be as positive as possible.
Your meeting should follow this basic format:
- Greeting: establish why you are here today – to resolve miscommunication and build a better team
- Apologize/recognize: say that you regret getting off on the wrong foot and that you want to start fresh going forward; then move on and leave this alone
- Review: look over your child’s current progress with the teacher; ask questions about the content or skills being taught; bring up any education plans (IEP, 504, gifted) and review for understanding (hint: use Talk to the Teacher to find awesome questions to ask and meeting plans!)
- Plan: make a plan with the teacher about communication – logbooks, emails, forms, apps; schedule a follow up meeting in 4-6 weeks
- Thanks: let the teacher know that you are excited to work together for your child and that you’re ready to move forward together in a positive direction
It’s not going to be easy. You will have to remember your plan and stick to your talking points.
For easy-to-follow, done-for-you meeting scripts, get a copy of Talk to the Teacher.
If you need something more specific, let’s talk! Schedule a FREE call with me to discuss your trouble spots and I’ll share a few tips you can try right away.
Plus, we can talk about ways that MilKids Ed can help you long term!
Hitting reset on your parent-teacher relationship will be worth it.
The teacher, or teachers, are the gatekeepers to the rest of the school.
Having a great teacher relationship can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
When you are working together and have a positive relationship, your child’s teacher can act as an extra advocate with the school!
What is holding you back from hitting reset on your parent-teacher relationship? Tell us in the comments.
~Meg
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