Reach out to the new teachers in your child’s life
By: Katie Albers
When we send our children back to school on August 7th, we place our most precious people into the hands of complete strangers. We trust these strangers to teach our children correct information, provide them with structure, and discipline them with fairness and consistency. We trust these strangers to protect our children from danger, comfort them in crisis, and mediate for them during conflict. We trust these strangers to provide our children with amazing experiences and to build relationships with our children that will give them the confidence to blossom. We trust these strangers because they are teachers, and they are trained for this honorable position. However, when we’re talking about our precious children, shouldn’t we know and trust teachers beyond the professional title? This school year, as your children prepare to meet new teachers, be proactive about getting to know and encouraging these important people in your child’s life.
Introduce Yourself
With your child’s input, prepare a letter about your child and your family. Include any information you think the teachers should know about your child: personality, likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. In this letter you might also share information about yourself and your family. You might talk about your special skills or hobbies, any special services or connections that you might provide, and what ways you would like to serve the school. Be as specific and creative as possible. You never know when your hidden talents might be needed.
Display Your Family Photo
Many teachers display pictures of their own families on their desks and bulletin boards. You might send your child to school with a photo of your family and ask the teacher if it could be displayed as well. That way, the teacher can put a face with your notes and emails.
Give Teacher Supplies
As you are shopping for school supplies, think also about teacher supplies. Teachers are always in need of post-it notes, dry-erase markers, transparent tape, staples, and paperclips. Surprise your child’s new teacher with a little gift bag of teacher supplies.
Wish Them Good Luck
Teachers get nervous on the first day of school too, but all of them have been in the school building days before the first one preparing for the kids. Why not mail a “Good Luck!” card to the school for your child’s new teacher the week before school starts? In it you can wish them a stress-free first day with the kids and offer your contact information. You might even include a coupon for a free coffee at a restaurant near the school so the teacher can start his or her day off with a smile.
Provide Positive Feedback
Throughout the year, as you are talking with your child about what goes on at school, take a minute to provide positive feedback to your teachers. This one is huge. Teachers don’t always know if their lessons have made an impact with their students. You could really make a teacher feel great by emailing that your child was excited about the lesson that day.
Spread Some Cheer
Surprise your child’s teachers with a special “Make it Through Monday” or “Thank Goodness It’s Friday” treat like a candy bar or a loaf of bread. Even a bottle of water with a packet of single-serve drink mix would be a refreshing delight.
Pray Blessings Upon Them
Finally, and most importantly, pray for your child’s teachers. Teaching is a rewarding profession, but it is also a tough one. Pray blessings of strength and peace on these special people that spend so much time with your special people.
Be the first to reach out to your child’s new teachers this year and see how quickly these strangers become your friends.