7 Teacher-approved Tips to Help Your Kids Be Better Students

7 Things Teachers Want Parents to Know
7 Things Teachers Want Parents to Know

Many parents spend more time criticizing their kids' teachers than they spend supporting them. I've had kids in preschool, elementary school, Jr. High, and now my oldest is in high school. I have never been disappointed when my children's teachers are supported and empowered to do their best.

The Washington Post surveyed teachers and came up with advice for parents to help their kids be better students. So pay attention to these 7 tips for parents from teachers below.

1. Let your child see you making mistakes.
I'd like my kids to think I'm practically perfect in every way, but there's just no chance of that happening because I'm not. Glossing over a mistake or continuing on in bullheadedness does your kids a disservice. They will make mistakes and they need to see there is a mode of recourse when they do. It's not always being right that makes you a parent, it's always being an example. Messing up gracefully is a life lesson best learned early. Swallow your pride, and always write in pencil.

Related: 28 ways to make your kid's teacher like you

2. Use e-mail to keep in touch.
Such a simple tip from teachers! Let's not deal with appointments and meeting in person if we don't have to. E-mail: It's the wave of the future and the future is now. Also, teachers like to hear good things along with your complaints. So let them know when your kids share what they've learned at school that day-it's a compliment to them. It's not like teachers make big bucks so a few words of appreciation from you might be the only bonus they get.

3. Don't tell your child you weren't good at math.
Too late.

Related: 10 things parents hate about going back to school

4. Get organized with a color-coded system.
I've learned the hard way that kids don't just automatically understand organization. It's not innate. Color coding their subjects is a great idea, especially when they transition from elementary to middle school. One year it's all cubbies and bulletin boards and the next they're on their own with a Trapper Keeper and a prayer. Teach them how to organize it all.


5. Check their homework, and then have them explain it to you.
They learn it better when they get a chance to explain it. This is absolutely something easy to enforce at home.

Related: 7 habits of highly effective kids

6. Don't compare your child with others.
This doesn't help anyone. Everyone is different. You know that.

7. Help your child make connections to literature.
This is my favorite thing in the world to do. I love reading and talking about stories with my kids. For me it's one of the funnest parts of parenting. They need to contextualize and extrapolate or reading is wasted on them. I'd so much rather spend time on this than drill them on math facts. I'm so bad at math, you guys.

Heard any other good tips from your teachers?

- By Kacy Faulconer
Follow Kacy on Babble

For 3 more teachers want parents to know, visit Babble!

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