Talk with the teacher

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Schedule a time to talk with the teacher. It is best to do this in person, if possible. Let the teacher calmly know what your child has shared with you, and give the teacher a chance to respond. Be careful to present what your child has said without being accusatory.

For example, you could say: “My son seems to think you don’t like him, he says that when he asks for help with his math you just tell him to try. He feels lost in Maths. How can we work together to improve his experience?”

The teacher may have a different explanation of the events. They may be totally unaware of how they are perceived. After hearing how your child feels, they may be moved to reflect upon their behaviour and take a fresh approach.

It may not be easy to hear, but you may learn your child is part of the problem. For example, their teacher may be unwilling to assist them because your child refuses to pay attention, participate, follow directions, or take notes in class.

Always be respectful when talking with the teacher. Avoid being accusatory and playing the blame game, which may cause the teacher to shut down rather than respond productively.

Feedback enables the willing teacher to improve and exposes the truly bad teacher. If nothing else, reaching out to the teacher lets them know your child talks to you about what is happening at school. If they are an inept teacher, they may rethink their methods, knowing an involved parent is watching.

Observe the class

Very often, watching the class in action is