How to Talk to Your Child’s Teacher About Concerns

Parents want the best for their children, but sometimes challenges come up at school. These challenges can be about behavior, learning, or emotions. It is important to know how to share your concerns with your child’s teacher in a respectful and clear way. Working together with the teacher can help your child succeed.

Teachers see your child every day in the classroom, while parents see them at home. Both views are important. When parents and teachers talk openly, it makes it easier to understand the full picture. By approaching concerns calmly and with specific examples, you show that you want to work as a team to support your child.

Behavior: Sometimes children may act out, struggle to follow rules, or have trouble getting along with classmates. If you are worried about your child’s behavior, it helps to bring up the concern in a way that asks for teamwork instead of blame.

Here are three prompts you might use:

• “I’ve noticed my child is having some trouble following directions at home. Are you seeing anything similar in class?”
  
  
• “Can you share what strategies work best for keeping my child focused during lessons?”
  
  
• “What can I do at home to support the same expectations you have in the classroom?”
  
  

Academics: Schoolwork can be tough for many children, and sometimes parents notice struggles with reading, writing, or math. It is important to ask clear questions that help you understand your child’s progress. This shows the teacher that you want to support learning at home.

Here are three prompts you might use:

• “I’ve noticed my child is frustrated with homework in this subject. How are they doing on class assignments?”
  
  
• “Are there specific skills my child needs extra practice with right now?”
  
  
• “Do you have resources or strategies we could use at home to help?”
  
  

Emotional Concerns: Children’s feelings matter just as much as their grades. A child who feels anxious, sad, or withdrawn may need extra support from both home and school. Sharing what you see at home helps the teacher understand the whole picture.

Here are three prompts you might use:

• “Lately, my child has been more worried than usual. Do you notice signs of this in the classroom?”
  
  
• “How does my child seem to interact with peers during group activities?”
  
  
• “What supports are available at school if my child needs help managing emotions?”

Bringing concerns to your child’s teacher can feel nerve-wracking, but remember: teachers want your child to succeed, too. Approach the conversation with respect, specific examples, and a willingness to listen. When parents and teachers work together, children benefit most.

For more information on common parenting topics, visit forwardleadingfamilies.org or path2growthcounseling.com to get in touch with a qualified professional for parenting support.