With the start of the new school year, your students will be getting a
new teacher and there are several bits of vital information you can convey
that will make their lives easier and help them to forge a connection
with your student. If you have the opportunity to speak with your student’s
new teacher, you can let them know the essentials which will help them
to foster a better relationship with you and your student.
Allergies and medical conditions: If your student has any allergies or existing medical conditions, please
inform their teacher. You should also leave a basic outline of actions
to take should a medical emergency arise. This could be instructions on
how to administer an inhaler or medication to combat the effects of allergies
how to recognize symptoms which will require medical attention. Teachers
should be aware of any side effects that the medication could cause like
drowsiness or vomiting.
Always ensure that your teacher and the school office have your contact
details as well as those of your secondary contact person and your doctor.
Providing adequate information will mean that your teacher is ready for
every eventuality.
Academics: Discussing your student’s academic history will help to highlight
areas in which your student excels and where teachers can possibly provide
more challenging materials and exercises. You can also highlight areas
that your student may have found challenging in the past so that the teacher
can keep an eye on progress and provide additional assistance where necessary.
Hobbies and interests: The more your teacher knows about his or her students, the easier it
is for them to build a relationship and make a connection. Knowing what
your student’s interests and hobbies are will help to provide topics
for conversation and will help your teacher to get to know your student better.
Extenuating circumstances: Throughout the year, its best to keep your teacher up to date on major
life changes that your student is experiencing in their home life. A death
in the family, divorce or an ill relative may have an impact on your student’s
academic performance or behavior. When your teacher understands what is
happening at home, they are better able to deal with any issues which
may arise at school. They can be more understanding and provide support
while allowing more time for academic work to be completed.
Religion: If your family practices a religion that stipulates clothing or food
choices, tell your teacher so that they can help your student to navigate
social and practical issues. You can also help teachers to plan their
academic calendars more effectively when they know which days are religious
holidays for their students.
Learning style: Each student has a particular learning style which is the way in which
they are best able to absorb information. While most lesson plans should
present information in ways that students from every learning style should
grasp, knowing your student’s learning style will help their teacher
to present information in ways that they can relate to and understand.
Forming a partnership with your new teacher will benefit everyone. Be open
and honest and provide all the necessary information to ensure a smooth
start to the new year.
