20 Things Teachers Want Parents to Know Ahead of a New School Year

The first day of school is always exciting for kids (Reunited with friends! Fresh school supplies! New shoes!), but it also marks the beginning of a stressful period for parents and teachers. From parent-teacher conferences and endless permission slips to packed schedules, it can be hard to juggle it all for everyone involved. And from a teacher's perspective, I can personally say that while we love our work and find tremendous value in it, we get burned out sometimes, too. But in the end, teachers' and parents' goals align — we all want our students to learn and have a great experience while we avoid unnecessary frustration. To help, here are 20 things teachers want parents to know ahead of the new year.

01
We're Not All the Same
Unsplash | Jess Watters

We're Not All the Same

I'm sure last year's teacher was phenomenal, but give me a chance. I've spent years honing my teaching style and classroom management procedures. Your kid is a year older and a year wiser, so they can handle a little bit of change. You might even find that my classroom ends up being a better fit!

02
We Really Need You to Read the Paperwork
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We Really Need You to Read the Paperwork

I know, I know — there is a lot of paperwork, but it's there for a reason, I promise. Read the classroom regulations and syllabus your child brings home the first week of school. Make a copy or take a picture on your phone if you think the class rules or curriculum might be difficult for your kid to navigate. If I'm strict about, say, late work, you can help your student deal with the issue preemptively rather than after getting a less-than-stellar report card.

03
Check the Website First
Unsplash | John Schnobrich

Check the Website First

I have most of the information you need posted there, including upcoming events, downloadable permission slips, classwork documents your student might have lost, and even resources for helping kids with homework and projects. This saves you the time it takes to email me and wait for my response.

04
Try Email Before Calling
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Try Email Before Calling

This is especially true if you want a timely response. I can only call parents back when I am at school, am not in meetings, and don't have students in my classroom for class, test makeups, tutoring, or supervision (such moments are rare). I can email while at home, in meetings, or even occasionally during class.

05
If You Haven't Gotten a Response in 48 Hours, You Were Probably Blocked
Unsplash | Slava Keyzman

If You Haven't Gotten a Response in 48 Hours, You Were Probably Blocked

If your first email to me hasn't gotten a response in 48 hours (72 hours if you emailed on a Friday afternoon), your email has most likely been blocked by the school filter. To avoid this, ask me to email you a quick line at the beginning of the year. Your emails should bypass the filter after that.

06
Encourage Your Child to Speak to Me About a Problem Before You Get Involved
Unsplash | Sean Kong

Encourage Your Child to Speak to Me About a Problem Before You Get Involved

Nudge your child to speak to me about an issue they're having in class before you get involved. If the resolution isn't satisfactory, then offer to help. This will help kids advocate for themselves, and it's a great learning opportunity not only for the classroom but in all aspects of life.

07
Bring Your Student With You to Parent-Teacher Conferences
Unsplash | Peter Hershey

Bring Your Student With You to Parent-Teacher Conferences

A lot gets lost in translation when the student isn't at the parent-teacher conference, and the parent misses out on a chance to check out the student-teacher dynamic. A meeting including all parties (student, parent, and teacher) can also create an opportunity to model how to constructively solve issues as a team.

08
Encourage Your Child to Start Projects Immediately
Unsplash | Kelly Sikkema

Encourage Your Child to Start Projects Immediately

I know they won't want to, but here's why it's so important: the directions and concepts will be fresh in their minds, and they won't have the assignments hanging over their (and your) heads for two weeks. This means the assignments will take less time, less frustration, and less familial strife to complete.

09
Don't Do Your Kid's Project For Them
Unsplash | Nicole Honeywill

Don't Do Your Kid's Project For Them

There's nothing wrong with assisting your child on a project, but it's really obvious when the parent has done most (or all) of the work. What's worse is when the parent doesn't follow instructions and then gets upset about a lower grade. Children lose learning opportunities when parents' perfectionism gets in the way.

10
We Don't Give Bad Grades, Bad Grades Are Earned
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We Don't Give Bad Grades, Bad Grades Are Earned

I don't want to give a student a poor grade; it makes me feel like I'm failing, too. But sometimes setting students up for future success means using grades to show them they're falling behind and need to work harder.

11
Don't Ask For a Better Grade, Ask For Another Chance
Unsplash | Tim Wright

Don't Ask For a Better Grade, Ask For Another Chance

I spent a lot of time and effort assessing your child's work, so I am unlikely to give out a better grade because a child or parent asks for it. Instead, encourage your child to ask for the ability to do a revision for a better grade. This shows a desire to learn from mistakes, and teachers love it!

12
Sometimes Kids Need to Struggle
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Sometimes Kids Need to Struggle

I try to walk a fine line of being a resource and teaching resourcefulness. If I (or you) help too much, students can develop a sort of learned helplessness.

13
We're Always Working
Unsplash | Tim Gouw

We're Always Working

Keep in mind that just because I'm not in the classroom doesn't mean I'm not working. I might be at a conference picking up new techniques. I might have gone home right after the final bell so I could get my grading finished without being interrupted by colleagues asking for favors. I might be out coaching the school soccer team. I grade during breaks. I plan and prepare over the Summer. I find inspiration for lessons in the aisles of the grocery store. Trust me, I'm always working.

14
If We're Absent, There's a Really Good Reason
Unsplash | Alexandra Gorn

If We're Absent, There's a Really Good Reason

Preparing for a substitute is way more work than actually coming in to teach. I will only be absent out of absolute necessity.

15
Our Classroom Management May Seem Unfair at Times, and We Can't Explain Why
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Our Classroom Management May Seem Unfair at Times, and We Can't Explain Why

I'm playing favorites because your child says that another student was allowed more time to take a quiz or that another kid got away with breaking a rule. Most special education students are "mainstreamed" today, and they have accommodations ranging from the use of a dictionary on a test to different consequences for behavioral infractions. These accommodations are protected by federal law, and they are confidential. This means I can't tell you which students have accommodations or what those accommodations are, even when defending what seems like unfair treatment.

16
Even Good Kids Lie Sometimes
Unsplash | Joseph Gonzalez

Even Good Kids Lie Sometimes

It's human nature for kids to lie every once in a while if they think it will help them avoid getting in trouble. Keep this in mind.

17
The Student-to-Teacher Ratio Can Be Deceiving
Unsplash | Nathan Dumlao

The Student-to-Teacher Ratio Can Be Deceiving

When a school boasts a class size of 23, that doesn't mean that your student will be in a class of only 23 students. Usually, the class sizes are averaged across the school. That means while one class might have six students in it, another class might have 30. I've had 42 kids in a class in a school whose average class size was 25. If you want to know the maximum amount of kids that will be in your student's class, ask about the class cap.

18
Hollywood Teachers Have It Easy
Unsplash | Sam McGhee

Hollywood Teachers Have It Easy

I love a triumphant school film like Freedom Writers as much as the next gal, but such movies do not give an accurate representation of what it's like to teach. Have you ever noticed that teachers in movies seem to have one class comprising about 15 kids? For context, last year I taught five classes with an average of 25 kids per class.

19
The Best Teacher Gift Is Gratitude
Unsplash | Aaron Burden

The Best Teacher Gift Is Gratitude

Whenever I feel like joining the private sector, I look in my "atta-girl" folder. This folder is full of notes from students and parents thanking me. I would much rather get one of these notes than a gift card or coffee cup.

20
We're on Your Kid's Team
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We're on Your Kid's Team

I want to have good relationships with my students and their parents. I want the best for each and every one of my kids. I want to make a difference. Help me help our student by presenting a united front.