Back-to-school advice for parents: Start year on the right foot

A new school year is underway, and with it comes many new experiences for students.  The first few weeks in a news school or with a new teacher and a new class is always exciting. 

It can also be challenging — and not for just the students.

"In some ways, a parent's relationship with their child's teacher is different from their relationship with any other professional," says Jim Brandon, associate professor in the Werklund School of Education. "To a very real extent, the parent and the teacher are part of the same team. They're just playing different positions."

Brandon, who has worked both as a teacher and in school administration, says developing a positive parent-teacher connection is vital in helping to support each student's success at school.  

"By student success, we mean student learning, engagement and well-being," he explains. "Like any other successful adult relationships, the parent-teacher linkage is strengthened through respectful interactions, knowing what to expect from each other, mutual trust and effective communication."

Brandon says it's best to give teachers the first few weeks of the school year to focus on getting to know students as individuals and as learners. Taking a positive attitude, being friendly and engaging in simple exchanges is an easy way to set a positive tone.

Once the classroom routine is established, Brandon suggests parents can look for ways to be active participants in their child's learning environment. He points to research which shows that when parents are collectively engaged in supporting the learning of all students as part of a collective leadership team (student, parent, teacher, school administration), schools are considerably more successful.  "Increasingly, educators are understanding the benefits of having parents supportively engaged in school activities."

Finally, Brandon says, the most important thing a parent can do is to take an active interest in his or her child's education. "While many parents would like to be more engaged in the life of the school, research indicates that learning to work productively with children at home is just as critical and pays better learning dividends in the long run. 

"Helping to stimulate your child's curiosity, building work habits, and encouraging the idea that good results come from effort and attention, will help build a steady foundation for student success. 

"Taking an interest in what your child says about what's happening in school can provide a window into that world for you."