The pandemic brought many changes — and among them, an overlooked positive transformation: Parents are more involved than ever in their children’s education. As the CEO of Baltimore public schools Sonja Santelises wrote in a recent EdWeek op-ed, “trust us” is no longer enough.
Parents always cared about their children’s progress in the classroom, but they were never in a position to actually observe the student-teacher interactions. But now they are, and that’s a good thing.
We understand that at Revolution Prep, so we make training and quality assurance our priority. As educators, delivering the highest-quality service possible is not just a mission; it’s an obligation.
Therefore, teachers experiencing the observing eyes of parents for the first time should embrace it. Santelises said it best, explaining that the pandemic has made teachers realize that parents are “a vital ally rather than an unwanted adversary.”
After all, educators and parents share the same goal: To provide children with the tools they need to succeed.
Here are three ways parents can work with teachers and tutors to ensure students are getting the most out of their education:
- Communicate without overstepping boundaries
- Understand the quality assurance process
- Teach your child to be vocal about questions or concerns
Communicate without overstepping boundaries
Creating a channel of communication with your child’s teacher or tutor is a great thing — that way, they can update you regularly on how they see your child’s progress. Be careful to not over do it, though. Teachers want the best for their students, just like you want the best for your child.
Create your own user feedback survey
Understand the quality assurance process
Great schools and tutoring companies have a process in place to ensure your child is getting the education they deserve. Make sure you are aware of how this process takes place, as it will give you comfort that teachers and tutors are being observed for quality purposes — and trained accordingly to fix any issues that may come up.
Teach your child to be vocal about questions or concerns
Students who are able to speak up for themselves have the best learning experience. They also make collaboration between parents and educators easier. Oh, and one more thing: It will set them up to be lifelong confident learners!