Parent And Teacher Collaboration Means Student Success

According to USA Funds Symposium, student success can be defined in several ways depending on the point of view. Some of these ways include progressing academically, earning high grades, getting a diploma, gaining real world experience, and eventually acquiring a high earnings job. All of these goals require a student to be in school all the time, do the work being assigned, and behaving in such a way that the student is not a distraction to himself or others.
How can teachers, parents, and schools work together to help students to achieve these quantifiable, successful goals?
Attendance: Being at School Everyday
Parents can partner with teachers by making sure students are in class every day. More and more students miss school for orthodontist appointments because the dentist has too many patients of school age to fit into an afterschool practice. Students are often out of school because of transportation problems or smaller children at home that need a babysitter. Some parents plan vacations during school. Students who are in school every day are building education and schema for the next important concept. Missing school frequently means missing the connections between discrete pieces of important information needed for successful learning to occur.
Assignments: Completing All Work on Time
Parents can partner with teachers by encouraging students use agendas to keep track of assignments, homework, and projects. Many schools provide agendas for students to use; parents can require students to share these at home so they are aware of projects, homework and due dates. Frequently assignments are also being posted on school web sites. Being aware of upcoming assignments keeps parents from feeling blindsided by the teacher when in actuality the student has been aware of the assignment and its requirements. This plan places the responsibility of the schoolwork back onto the student.
Actions: Appropriate Behavior
Parents can partner with teachers by expecting appropriate behavior at school. Once upon a time, students knew that getting in trouble at school meant getting in trouble at home as well. Teachers were considered authority figures that were trusted and believed. When parents distrust teachers, students believe that teachers are not authoritative and, therefore, not deserving of respect. As a result, some students began to play the teacher against the parents. Not surprisingly, both the teachers and the parents became frustrated at the students and at each other. Without a united front, students became empowered to keep from doing schoolwork and to act without discipline.
How can teachers and parents recover the respect and trust of students? How can students learn without that expectation of respect?
Solving the Equation
Parents and teachers must come together believing that both sides want the best for the student. Parents must believe that teachers care and work hard for students. Teachers need to believe that parents are working hard to keep students in attendance with supplies and homework. When students graduate to middle and high school, parents and teachers need to expect students to be responsible for their own behavior and schoolwork.
Teachers can help parents by calling home whenever something occurs at school. Teachers can feel frustrated calling home when they feel parents will blame the teacher instead of the student whenever something happens. Teachers can help parents by posting assignments accurately and as soon as possible so parents can plan accordingly. Teachers also would ask parents to share information that impacts the student and his/her performance at school.

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