6 Important Things to Tell Your Teacher

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.