A teacher writes a wish list for parents of first-graders

Our author took over a first class after the summer holidays. As a teacher with almost 30 years of experience, what expectations does she have of the parents of her first-grade children? She reveals her wish list!

By the time you read this, my new first-graders will already have their first week of school behind them. I was really looking forward to seeing the boys and girls with their much too big theks on their backs. Will I be able to do them all justice? Will my lessons be suitable for everyone? Will the pupils like me? Will I get on with all the parents? What are the individual expectations and wishes?
Even after almost 30 years in the profession, taking over a new class has remained an adventure for me. Just as children and, above all, parents have expectations of me, I have some of them. Success at school has a lot to do with co-operation between home and school. Pulling the same strings provides the basis for the child to feel comfortable at school and be able to realise their full potential.

Marion Heidelberger is Vice President of the Swiss Federation of Teachers (LCH) and a passionate educator.

My wish list for the parents of my new first-graders (the wishes also apply - slightly adapted - to parents of older children):

Make sure your child gets enough sleep:

Sufficient sleep increases performance.
Your child should refrain from using screens from 90 minutes before bedtime.

Make sure you eat a balanced diet:

It's hard to learn on an empty stomach.
Make sure that your child eats a healthy and balanced diet in the morning and throughout the day.

Let your child walk to school alone:

Make sure that your child leaves the house early enough. The really important things happen on the way to school. There is no better place to cultivate friendships. You also prevent your child from having to run and thus paying too little attention to traffic.
Be a role model, that is the best road safety education.
Children love snow and rain, it is not necessary to take your child to school by car even on nasty days.

Help your child to do things themselves:

This is the most important principle of all. You don't pack your child's gym bag and tidy up their room - they should do it themselves.
Make a chore chart for simple tasks at home (setting or clearing the table, feeding the pet, watering the flowers, tidying the room). In this way, you and your child can practise independence, a sense of duty and personal responsibility every day - three important factors for success at school.
Don't do the homework for your child! You shouldn't correct them either, that's my job. But you are allowed to ask your child what they have to do and whether they have completed the tasks.

Set rules and boundaries:

Teach your child to respect rules. Children need boundaries and guidelines. This works best if there are also a few rules at home. It is better not to have too many, but to enforce the few consistently. This will help your child to integrate into a group.
Good social skills are a quality that is also very important in an apprenticeship. The earlier a child learns this, the easier it is. This also includes accepting sanctions for not following rules.

Show interest in the school:

Ask your child what is on their mind, what they have experienced at school and what they are currently learning.
By actively listening, you show your child that school is important to you. By asking questions, you will also notice if something is not right or if there are conflicts.

Trust in your abilities and those of your child:

Have a positive attitude towards the school and the teacher. Because everyone has a common goal: the best for your child.
Trust in your upbringing and your child's abilities. This will make your child strong. This is the best way to support your child and contribute to their success at school.

Seek dialogue:

Zögern Sie nicht, die Lehrperson zu informieren, wenn sich zu Hause Veränderungen ergeben (Erwerbslosigkeit, Trennung, Geburt eines Geschwisters, Krankheit, Todesfall, Umzug, ein neues Haustier).
Fragen Sie unbedingt nach, wenn Sie etwas nicht verstehen oder Sie das Gefühl haben, Ihr Kind fühle sich nicht wohl. Dann kann man gemeinsam eine Lösung suchen. Oft genug sind es Missverständnisse, die schnell geklärt werden können.
Eine gute Gesprächskultur zwischen Schule und Elternhaus ist das A und O des Schulerfolges Ihres Kindes.

Bild: pexels.com

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