Each year, as my children headed to school. I wrote a one page letter of introduction about them to their teacher. In it, I told her that I looked forward to having a good school year and working with her. I also told her:
· A bit about my family.
· A bit about my child’s personality and temperament.
· My goals for my child.
· My availability for field trips and other school and classroom events.
I always ended the letter with a thank you and my phone numbers. (Yes, when my children were young, home and work phone numbers was all the contact info available.) Now, the contact info would include my email address, my cell phone #, and a fax number.
Here are examples of what was in the letter:
About my family:
When the children were young, we were one family and there wasn’t much to say except that their father and I worked together to support our children. When my husband and I separated, I wrote that “although my husband and I are separated and the children live with me, we are still partners in their education and development. Please send all school information to his address as well. (I provided stamped, addressed envelopes for this.)
About my child’s personality and temperament:
Amber is quiet, a bit shy and slow to warm up to new things. I would like you to help her speak up more in class.
Cyrus is gregarious, a bit of a clown and a charmer. I would like you to help him work on his listening skills and not encourage his clowning.
I heard from teachers that this letter of introduction was helpful. By writing it, my first communication with their teachers began on a positive note and a spirit of collaboration.
©Candelaria Silva-Collins
Related Parent411 Workshop:
Temperament 411
This workshop covers different temperaments and ways to handle them. It also discusses the differences between temperament and personality and various communication and discipline styles that are effective.
