Back to School: 5 Questions to Ask Your Child’s New Teacher

I love this time of the year! School is officially starting, and it’s back to business for kids whose daily routine will be kicked into high gear. Many parents and their kids will get the pleasure of meeting their new teacher a few days before the school year begins, which is a great time to see the classroom your child will be inhabiting for the next several months. Meeting the new teacher is also a perfect opportunity to ask the teacher questions that you have regarding the curriculum, class rules, expectations, and more.

My child and I met her new third grade teacher recently, and I didn’t take the event for granted. I had a list of questions that I knew would not only help me but my daughter as well.

Here are 5 Questions to Ask Your Child’s New Teacher:

1. “Tell Me a Little About Yourself”

I know this sounds a little cliche, but it’s a really good question to ask a teacher. With this question, you may be able to find out where they went to school, how long they’ve been teaching, how long they’ve been at the school, etc. It’s a great way to open up the lines of communication, and you may feel more at ease knowing these details about your child’s teacher.

2. Teaching Style

Many teachers have a specific teaching style. Some are comforters, some are very rigid and strict. Knowing the teacher’s style may help you when speaking with your child about their day and the goings on in the classroom.

3. Discipline

Knowing how your teacher disciplines is key. We all like to think that our child always behaves well at school, but the truth is that all kids have their bad days, which may affect their behavior in the classroom. Knowing how your child’s teacher disciplines will help the both of you with making sure your child understands the consequences to their bad behavior while at school.

4. Special “Needs”

Each of our kids are unique in their own way. For instance, I have blogged in the past that my daughter stutters and sees a speech pathologist while in school twice a week. Knowing how your child’s teacher deals with these items may give you more a peace of mind while your child is in school. Since my daughter is pulled out of her classroom twice a week for an hour, I need to know how she will learn the material that is being taught while she is with the speech pathologist. I need to know how the work will be made up and if she will be on par with the rest of the class. If your child has any areas of concern, Meet the Teacher Day is a great time to address them.

5. What Do You Need From Me?

Each year at the beginning of the school year, I always ask my daughter’s teacher, “what do you need from me”? It’s a question that I think a lot of teachers would like to be asked. That is because school is a partnership—it’s not just about the teacher doing their thing and us parents sitting in the background. We have to work together to ensure a successful school year, and I want my child’s teacher to know that I am here for anything they need. I can volunteer, assist with class parties, help tidy the classroom, or do anything else that they need me to do.

We all want our kids to to have a happy school year. Asking questions of your child’s teacher and bridging the gap between home and school ensures that your kids have the solid foundation they need scholastically.

Here’s to a happy school year!

What types of questions do you ask your child’s new teacher?

About The Author

The Cubicle Chick, otherwise known as Danyelle Little, is the owner and editor of TheCubicleChick.com. After losing her job in Corporate America in 2009, she found a way to channel her frustration into a site that focuses on work, life, and play. Danyelle blogs and administers this site full-time, freelances for several other sites and publications, and works as a social media consultant to other brands, bloggers, and businesses. You can learn more about her by visiting DanyelleLittle.com.

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