Secrets To Ensure The Teacher Gets "Warm Fuzzies" When Your Child Enters Their Classroom

I'm a parent.  I'm a teacher.  I'm a teacher parent.  So is my husband.  Bless our kids hearts.

But seriously, this is good and one day they will thank us.  We have an insiders vantage point on just what teachers love (and dread) to have walk through their door.  I've been thinking a lot lately about things parents can do (things WE can do) to prepare our kids for the school years.  I'm not talking about learning their ABCs and 123s here.  I'm talking about the "good" stuff, the life stuff.  The stuff that makes kids who they are and ultimately determines whether they bring sunshine to their teacher's classroom.  (or maybe even a little thunder and lightning...)  But really, can I post that?  None of my fifth grade babies bring me thunder.  Or lightning.  Nope, not one. 

The skip right over that.  They bring tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes.  (Why yes, that probably WAS what you felt on Valentine's weekend when your walls rattled...just my students.)

All kidding aside, I love them dearly.  And most days, they bring me warm, radiant, yellow and golden sunshine..

Because we thrive on those kind of days and they keep us going, I'll let you in on a few secrets that teachers (at least this one) wish all parents knew and practiced. 

In no particular order...

• Teach your child to clean up after themselves when they are very young.  Yes, even if they cry, pitch a fit, flail and call you mean.  Don't worry, they will get over it.  And one day they will be glad you made them practice this skill...and if they are male (like mine are) so will their wives!  Double whammy.  But seriously-their teachers aren't their maids, nor are the school janitors.  They can pick up their scraps of paper from the floor and make an effort to hang up or properly store their book bags and jackets. It won't kill them, and it lessens the chances of their teacher killing them.  (with her eye shots, that is...)
• Don't run to their rescue every time they call for help. Really, don't.  Children need to learn to be independent thinkers and problem solvers.  They need to be able to figure out that if the teacher says to get out a sheet of paper and they don't have one with them, they should immediately go and get one.  They don't need to sit at their desk and just not participate.  I mean, does that even make sense???  Problem solving skills are so important.  They won't develop them if you won't let them.  Make them think, let them experiment with solutions.  Some will work, others won't.  That's ok-they need to be capable of at least attempting to figure some things out on their own.
• Let them lose, fail, come in second, last, whatever.  Let them experience disappointment.  Trust me, I know this one is hard.  As a mom, it's probably one of the hardest things I have to do, to sit and watch my children experience disappointment or to not be the best at something when they desperately want to be the best at everything.  But, nobody enjoys the child who can't bow down gracefully, who can't handle being eliminated in a round of a vocabulary review game without a meltdown. It's equally as unenjoyable to be around the child who always does the best at everything at the expense of others feelings.  Don't let your child be that child.  Teach them that it's ok to lose and be disappointed.  Teach them to be a graceful winner and a humble loser.  (just don't teach them to be a "loser" in general...that's not good)  :)
• For the love of all things eloquent, teach your child manners!  Yes ma'am, No ma'am, please and thank you go a long way in this world, especially if you are a child speaking to an authority figure. Whether you choose to have your child address everyone as ma'am and sir or not is your own business, but do teach them not to respond with a "huh?" or "yeah?" when their name is called by an adult or authority figure.  It makes my blood boil. Showing simple gratitude with their words and politeness in their requests are great attributes to have as well.  Please?  Thank you.  (see, that was easy!)
• Teach your child to be organized with and keep up with their own belongings.  You don't come to school with your child each day, and therefore can't organize their locker, their folders and make sure they have their necessary materials.  Despite what the world thinks of teachers (glorified babysitters, we've been called) neither do we have the time.  We have lots of other important details regarding your child to handle, so let's make sure they can effectively pull out their reading folder when needed AND that the necessary materials are within it.  That's huge. 
• Do not allow them to talk back to you or beg when  you have said no.  Let your yes be yes and your no be no.  Don't be someone they bargain with when it counts-(some things are ok.)  But when the teacher says it's time to get quiet-it's time to get quiet, whether they think it's a good idea or not.  Sometimes they will just have to submit to authority because "I said so" and that reason will have to be enough. If they are caught in the act of doing something, let's say talking during silent lunch, they need not argue their way out of it.  They did it.  They got caught.  They are guilty.  They aren't going to change their teacher's mind about that, and they shouldn't feel they have the right to do so. 

Oh this has been fun!