Ongoing linky parties: Motivation Monday and Fabulously Frugal Thursdays.
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As a parent, one of my jobs is overseeing my children’s education, even participating in it as a teacher if needed. Essential to the success of my job is developing a relationship with my children’s teachers. The foundation of that relationship is getting to know the teacher at every opportunity I have to chat with them. I also need to help the teacher get to know my child. Writing a letter to my child’s teacher at the beginning of the year helps them to see my child outside the classroom. I also show my commitment to my child’s education in a real, tangible way.
I first learned about this tool when I attended the Power Mommy Back to School Boot Camp last August. Uneeka Jay, founder of Power Mommy Nation, shared her experiences as a working mom and helped the participating moms to get started on creating an education plan for each of their children. Since Uneeka is a working mom, writing letters to her children’s teachers at the beginning of the school year helps her set the stage for a working relationship with the teachers, including how to contact her if an issue needs to be discussed.
Last year, I wrote letters to 7 teachers. I emailed the letter to my son’s high school teachers after meeting them at Back to School night. I mailed the letters to the elementary school teachers in August before the start of school. Below is a copy of the letter I wrote to my son’s second grade teacher. In my parent conference with her last fall, she made a point of telling me how helpful the letter was for her in understanding my son and working with him.
Dear Ms. …..,
I just wanted to introduce myself and DS7 since this is the first time I will have a child in your classroom.
DS7 is my second son, though he is the oldest of my four young ones. He loves to draw anything from military history, including diagrams of battles. Generally quiet and helpful in the classroom, he is not one to linger on his work. If he helps you with something, he does need clear, specific instructions which he repeats since he is sensitive and may not listen and understand the instructions from the beginning.
DS7 is very close to his youngest brother, DS3, our three year old. He also does a wonderful job of taking care of DS3 when I need help.
I’m looking forward to helping out in whatever way I can throughout the year. I do still have a three year old at home who will need to come with me; I will understand if some volunteer opportunities are not appropriate for a toddler.
Please don’t hesitate to call me at ….. if you have anything to discuss about DS7. I also pick my children up every day after school, and can do a quick chat if needed.
Signed by me
This week I’m writing letters to the elementary teachers again. Even though the teachers know my children through their siblings, I will still make the time to lay the foundation for the new student.
Do you write letters to your children’s teachers at the beginning of the year?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! What a great idea and a great letter. More parents should do this.
Awesome idea, I am so doing this!!
Thank you!
Awesome idea! I appreciate the concept that the parent’s job is to develop a good working relationship with the teacher. Keeps the child’s welfare at the heart of it all and that is always a good thing! Thanks for linking on busy Monday!
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