Teachers Say
Parents Can Help!

By Patty Catalano at SchoolFamily.com.

We asked Jerry L. Parks, a social studies teacher at Georgetown (Ky.) Middle School and a member of the 2007 USA Today All-USA Teacher Team, to share his thoughts. Parks keeps in touch with parents through email, class websites, and phone calls. He is the author of Help! My Child Is Starting Middle School! A Survival Handbook for Parents.

What differences do you notice in students with involved parents? “Parents who take an active interest in their child’s work and school well-being are one of the biggest contributors to my students’ success,” Parks says. Children of involved parents typically have higher self-esteem and have fewer behavior problems in school. And students’ grades usually improve when their parents become involved.

How can parents stay informed about their child’s school performance? If your school posts grades online, be sure to check them often. Emailing the teacher is also a good way to get a quick status report. “Email has been a godsend,” he says, because it is “less intrusive for the teacher and less threatening for the parent.”

What are some questions parents should ask about their children? Ask the teacher whether she thinks your child is giving his best effort in class and whether she has noticed any significant changes in your child’s behavior or grades, Parks suggests. It’s also a good idea to find out whether the teacher has concerns about the friends your child has chosen. Make sure you understand the teacher’s policy for making up missed work, and don’t forget to ask about the best way to keep in touch throughout the year.

What should parents do if they feel the teacher assigns an excessive amount of homework? First, try to find out whether the amount of work really is excessive. “Ten minutes per grade level each night is about right,” Parks says. If the level of homework does seem like too much, think about whether it happens often or only once in a while: “Some units and projects simply require more homework,” he says.

How should a parent approach the teacher about this? Don’t go in with the attitude that the teacher is wrong. Instead, ask for advice on how you can help your child deal with the excessive homework. “Allowing the teacher to suggest solutions is far more effective than challenging their wisdom,” says Parks.

How should a parent address a grade that the student feels he or she did not deserve? Instead of being confrontational, calmly explain that your child is upset or confused about the grade. Ask the teacher how your child’s grade compared with the rest of the class or the overall grade level. “This will give the parent the information they really want to know without making the teacher feel threatened,” Parks says. It may also help the teacher realize whether the assignment was too difficult for all students.

Some parents are just not comfortable approaching teachers. How should they get started? Keep in mind that teachers may also be nervous about talking to parents, Parks says. Break the ice by sending the teacher an email or personal note at the start of the school year, and be sure to attend your school’s open house to meet the teacher. If the teacher has done something that made a difference for your child, schedule a meeting to thank him. Finally, Parks suggests, join the school PTO. “There is security in numbers!”

Top 5 Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Succeed in School

2. Designate a time and place for your child to do homework. If he does not have homework, have him use the time to read. “Routine is the essence of a child’s life,” he says.

3. Keep in touch with teachers, but don’t overdo it. “Most teachers appreciate parents caring enough to keep in touch a few times a term but do not appreciate parents expecting contact on a regular basis.”

4. Teach your child character—it “will improve social and academic skills more than anything else,” Parks says. “Some things are simply wrong, and the world your child will grow up in will punish crimes, so give your child a head start.”

5. Make time every day to talk with your child about the day’s activities. “Let them know you care, and really listen to what they have to say.”