Face family-school challenges with confidence, common senseThroughout your child's education, you may disagree with school staff about minor--and occasionally serious--issues. Although this can feel pretty uncomfortable, remember that conflicts are a natural part of relationships. What's important is how they're resolved. When serious issues need to be discussed:
- Listen to your child. Kids are often the first to mention school concerns. Take your child's feelings to heart, and use intuition and common sense to guide your actions. You might ask yourself, "Do my child's worries make sense to me?" "Has my child raised this concern more than once?" "Is it important to step in now?"
- Listen to the teacher. There are two or more sides to every story. It's valuable to keep an open mind and reserve judgment until all the facts (and opinions) are in.
- Stay positive. If you don't like a teacher, working together can be a challenge. Focus on your shared goal: a successful classroom experience for your child. By maintaining a calm, respectful attitude, you'll be the best advocate for your student.
- Ask for help. Sometimes, despite your hard work, a problem persists. Consider meeting with the guidance counselor or principal for help. Be confident that together, you'll find a solution.
Reprinted with permission from the February 2010 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: "Addressing Problems," PBS Parents, www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/address_prob.html.
