Sera's Walk

Spiritual ministry for families
Home
The Lesson
Parents on the Team
Effective Conferences
Prayer Covenant
How to survive emptinest
About Us
Contact Us
Site Map
News to Me
Parents as a Part of the Team
This column is in support of parents as a vital member of their child(ren)'s team.

It is vital for parents to do anything and everything possible to realize that the role they play in their child(ren)’s lives could make every difference in their success in school, in the community and in their future as adults. The main focus of this column will be regarding parents as Educational Team Members with their child, the teacher, the administrators and the educational community at large.
Parents should embrace any opportunity offered by the school system to elicit their participation. How else can the schools really know “how they are doing” and “how they can do better” unless they receive support and feedback from parents? How else can parents know what kind of day their child is having in school and what challenges they face? As a parent who has raised four children, including my two step children, my most rewarding job has been an Educational Team Member for my children. In this role, I have been an active and vital team member along with my children, their teachers and the school administrators in ensuring a successful school experience for everyone involved.
All too often, parents believe that sending the children to school is the only responsibility they have toward their child’s education. Parents need to understand that they are their child’s first teacher. Children watch and listen to their parents for words and actions to identify if they should act in a successful manner.

Remember, your child is your first and last priority of every day. They are more important than your job, your friends and your social activities. They are irreplaceably your greatest assets. Your job is to help your children develop into healthy, prosperous, law abiding adults. Helping them enjoy a successful educational career as a vital and active team member is a huge investment which you will never regret.

The way to become a Team Member is to:
1. Understand that during the week your child spends more of his or her waking hours in a classroom than any place else. The more pleasant this experience is, the more successful your child will be in life.

2. Establish a good relationship with teachers. Teachers are professionals with a great deal of education and experience under their belt. They need your support and encouragement.

     a. Set up an appointment within the first week of school to introduce yourself, provide all of your contact phone numbers along with an emergency name and phone number, and to find out about the class curriculum.
     b. Offer to volunteer in the classroom and on field trips. Show up.
     c. Periodically send a supply of pencils, facial tissue and other supplies you think the teacher may need.
3. Attend teacher/parent conference established by the school.
4. When the teacher tells you things you may not like to hear about your child, listen and then work with your child to correct their behavior or improve their work habits.

5. If your child or family has a special circumstance the teacher needs to know, such as serious illness or death in the family. These are circumstances which can cause a child to misbehave or daydream in class. If the teacher isn’t aware of this situation, they may make matters worse for the child.
6. Advocate for your child. If you believe there is a personality conflict between your child and the teacher, discuss this with the teacher. If the teacher doesn’t help resolve the problem, take the problem to the school principal. Continue to move up the chain of command until the problem is resolved equitably.
7. If several teachers report your child has the same behavior or learning difficulties, ask to observe your child in class. If you are sitting in the back of the room, your child and the teacher will forget your there and the true issues will reveal themselves. If your child is the problem, take action as soon as possible. You are cheating your child if you don’t.
8. Attend and participate in any and all assemblies where parents are invited. Children take pride in their parents’ presence.
9. Check your child’s homework. Hire a tutor or enroll your child in an accredited learning center if they are consistently having problems with a subject.
10. Acknowledge and reward your child for doing the right thing. Children respond to attention – make it a habit to provide positive attention.
11. Firmly establish academic and behavior standards for your child in home and in the classroom. Set and administer consistent and reasonable consequences for poor academic and behavior reports.