Some parents are hesitant to “bother” the teacher. But you are helping your child’s teacher if you let her know when your kid is having a problem. Here are instances when you should check in with the teacher so both of you can help your child do well in school:

  1. Behavior

    If your child is acting up at home, make sure you talk to the teacher. Tell her what you’re seeing at home and how you’re dealing with it. She may have suggestions or notice similar behavior at school. Or maybe she’s seeing things at school that could be causing the behavior (like bullying or teasing).

    If the teacher says your child is acting up in class, you can give her ideas on ways to stop the behavior (things that have worked for you at home). You can also talk to your child and find out why he’s misbehaving.

    If classroom behavior is an ongoing problem, you may want to work with the teacher on rewarding your child on good days. Your teacher can let you know if your child had a good day, and you can do something special with him to let him know that his success in school is recognized at home too!

  2. Social issues

    School can bring out challenging social issues for any child. It can be hard for young kids who are just starting school to learn how to play well with other children. In kindergarten there is a lot to figure out about making friends.

    If your child comes home worried or sad, it may be because of problems with friends at school. Or maybe you’re concerned that your child hasn’t made any friends. These are important issues to talk about with the teacher. After all, she sees your child in action with his classmates every day. By telling you what she’s seeing, the teacher may help you talk to your child at home.

    If the teacher thinks that one particular classmate would be a good match for your child, for example, you could contact that child’s parents and try to get the kids together after school.

  3. Schoolwork

    The teacher will probably send home notes on what her students are learning in class. Make sure to read those notes and talk with your child about his schoolwork. If possible, practice the same lessons at home.

    If you see your child struggling with a particular issue, or if you’ve noticed him trying to avoid subjects, check in with the teacher. Remember: The teacher is dealing with 20 to 30 children, so chances are you’re going to notice problems before she does. If you bring a potential learning problem to her attention, the teacher can focus on it and see if she can help your child. The earlier you catch a learning problem, the easier it will be to solve!