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by Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D.
Special to Tropical Breeze
It is impossible to attach the full
significance of the cooperative parent to the successful
achievement and well being of middle-school students -- AND their
teachers!
There is nothing like teamwork in which
parents and teachers experience together the care, nurturing and
successful education of children about whom they are concerned.
When a student is having difficulty of any
kind, either academically or in conduct areas, the best solutions
-- some nothing less than spectacular -- come from the teamwork of
parents and teacher. The same holds true if the student is already
doing well!
Recently, in my role as a middle-school
teacher, I have several times experienced the effect of teacher and
parents steadily working together to help students improve. With
such a united front, the student can believe it, both by the
consistency and joint support. Like it or not, when the teacher and
parent agree on something so simple as, say using appropriate
manners or bringing in school supplies, it impresses most students.
When that student sees that the parent-school teamwork is a really
solid front, the strategy planned becomes easier on all concerned.
Communication is improved and really used to its best.
Most of the adults in a student's life
are very busy people. If a parent and teacher take the time to
discuss, then plan on a consistent response to a student's needs,
this done honestly in an amiable fashion, there's really no
telling how much this prominent connection between home and school
will affect that child's efforts and success.
Let's say, for example, if a student is
insisting on taking too many breaks -- say for a drink or the
bathroom -- leaving class, using up too much valuable learning
time, joint teacher and parent action is called for at once. If
it's determined that the student is not ill or for some reason
does not actually need to leave, a parent and teacher's joint
decision that for now, in that class, the permission to leave is
withdrawn is a good one. Such a firm parent-teacher teamwork
decision makes a strong impression on the student.
Sometimes such a parent-teacher teamwork
decision comes as quite a surprise -- to the student. Students who
actually depend on a lack of communication between teachers and
parents for their own solo headway, may learn that adults are still
in charge -- albeit on their behalf. That is why teachers who are,
shall we say, in cahoots, with parents, are usually better able to
urge a child forward, to progress, to pride.
The student goes home to find the same
stand taken by mom or dad. There you have it. Both teacher and
parent have help and support in their child-care "jobs," and yet
all to the benefit of the child. Now that is powerful
parenting!
If you are a parent who really wants to be
supportive of your older child's school efforts, take precious
time to be in touch with his/her teachers. Do this immediately --
whether your child is obviously doing well or obviously not doing
well. Work with a teacher likely to help your child just now. Both
give and receive ideas and support for the child, for you, and for
the teacher. Win-Win-Win!
You cannot do more for your middle-school
student than sharing in this very positive cooperative teaming-up
action! It's a joy and our joint responsibility to do so. In so
doing, whether this student is an only child or one of five or more
in your family, in rightfully teaming up with a teacher, you thus
show big-time that your family matters!
© 2008 Rosemary Lee Potter. All
Rights Reserved.
Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D., has been a
teacher since 1960, including 21 years at Safety Harbor Middle
School, and is now a reading teacher at Carwise Middle School, Palm
Harbor. Contact her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by mail in care
of Tropical Breeze, P.O. Box 585, Safety Harbor, FL 34695.
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