Unless you have been a teacher yourself, it is difficult to truly understand just how much teachers do behind the scenes– the long hours spent planning, grading, and creating, showing up to teach when you don’t feel well, or even the time spent outside of school worrying about their students. Teachers put in so much time and effort, and rarely get the acknowledgement they deserve.
I asked some teachers to share what they wished parents knew, how parents have supported them, and what support they wish parents would give, and thought I’d share what they had to say!
What are some things you wish parents/guardians knew about you, your job, and/or your efforts?
- I wish parents knew how many countless hours teachers spend outside of their contract hours. I wish parents knew the time and preparation that goes into setting up a classroom, planning lessons, and preparing for parent teacher conferences. I wish parents knew that I love their kid even when they are difficult. I wish parents knew the sacrifices we make away from our own kids and family to teach theirs. I wish parents knew that we really can tell if they are supporting their child’s education at home. I wish parents knew how many different hats we are expected to wear in one day. I wish parents knew the levels of disrespect happening at such a young age. I wish parents knew how much their child’s behavior affects others. I wish parents knew that we really are just trying to do our best and we are still humans with families and a life outside of the classroom.
- I wish parents knew that teachers are not the enemy. We want your child to succeed, but when you don’t hold them accountable at home and don’t treat their education or the school’s time as valuable, your child sees it and develops the same impression. How you treat their teachers and education models how they feel about school.
- How much screen time at home impacts student learning at school!
- That we really are trying to do what’s best.
What are some ways parents/guardians have supported you in your classroom and teaching?
- Asking if they could volunteer or asking how they could help, sending supplies, responding to emails or phone calls in a timely manner, giving feedback when I’ve asked for it and having open communication in general. If they know their child will be gone, help the student approach me so they learn those skills, but also help facilitate and follow through with me too. Your child is just that, a child. They need parents and teachers to work together.
- I have had such amazing parents who have supported me in so many ways. Honestly, my favorite is just when parents are involved and paying attention to what’s going on at school.
- Be involved. Sign up for things that the teacher puts out there. Come to parent teacher conferences. A simple thank you goes such a long ways.
- Volunteering on field trips/class parties, donating supplies, working with their children at home on math & reading.
- Parents have supported me by helping their child succeed at home which transfers to the classroom.
What are some ways you wish parents/guardians would offer/provide more support to you?
- Ask their student to try and resolve the issue, whatever it may be, with the teacher first. If they need help, by all means… assist, but don’t do everything for them. Even if it’s an email to the teacher letting them know the situation and that you’re hoping the child approaches you. Model good relationships and communication between two adults.
- Read the emails, be involved with your child’s learning, come to parent teacher conferences. Be patient with us. Teach your children respect and have that be the bare minimum expectation.
- Continue to support their child by encouraging or setting up home routines that check their grades to keep them accountable and responsible and completing daily reading at home.
- Making sure their child isn’t chronically absent, encouraging their child to read at home.
- Pay attention and be involved.
Teachers cannot do it alone! Parent support is absolutely crucial for student success. Parent support is incredibly helpful to teachers, too. Not all parents have the time or resources to be in the classroom volunteering, but all parents can take a few minutes to read emails or papers sent home, as well as to be aware of what is happening at and with school.
At the end of the day, parents and teachers both want the same thing– for students to succeed and be good people. Working together to achieve this is so much more effective than putting the responsibility all on one party. After all, team work makes the dream work!