Today  we are launching a new feature here called  #asktheexpert. 

When you are a teacher in a preschool classroom you are not only the student’s teacher but a nurse, a social worker, a friend, a judge, a counselor and most importantly their role models.  There are many issues that need to be addressed in the classroom, such as transitions, the importance of sleep, transitions, routines, and most importantly parent engagement. Parent engagement is defined as parents and school staff working together to support and improve the learning, development, and health of children. Parent engagement plays a major part in a student’s success inside and outside of the classroom.  Parent engagement starts with communicating with the teachers to build a relationship and to find out resources for your child and your family. You can build a relationship with your child’s teacher by first introducing yourself, exchanging emails, or numbers, sharing your goals, expectations for the classroom and for the child. As time goes on make sure you communicate with the teacher in front of the child with a positive attitude so they know that you and the teacher work as a team. Never come to your child’s classroom talking on the phone because it shows that you are not interested in what they learned or how they behaved today. Then as the parent you could ask how your child’s day was when you pick them up and ask the teacher or child what they did in class today.  Having positive energy in the morning before school helps the child start off the day great and helps the teacher keep the positive energy in the classroom.

 Volunteering is very important to the child and the teacher. Your presence at school is one way to show your love and encouragement to your child and other children in the classroom. Also, it helps with children who have a difficult time in the classroom. At home, parents can be engaged with their child by reading to them each night, helping with their homework, playing educational games, and asking how their day was at school. “At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” – Jane D. Hull 

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