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Working through problems at school is like helping children solve conflicts at home:  you have to hear all sides of the story before deciding what to do.

If you're upset about a grade or incident involving your child at school, don't leap to conclusions before contacting the teacher or school.  Get the story from other people's perspective before you say something you might later regret.

For example, it would be unfair to punish your child for a low mark on a pre-test - a test given before the material is covered in class. 

It could be unfair to assume the child who pushed your child down in the playground is a bully when it could have been an accident.  At the same time, repeated incidents could indicate a problem with bullying that should be addressed.  It could also be your child that's doing the bullying.

We all want to protect our children.  We all love them and want to think the best, but parents need to approach problems with an open mind.

Building relationship with school staff by getting involved and attending school events is key to working through problems when they arise.

Dont hesitate to contact your childs teacher.

Dont feel that you must wait for a problem to contact your childs teacher or school staff. In fact, teachers appreciate it anytime you make the effort to get to know them and what they're working on in the classroom.

The key is to establish positive relationships as early as possible. Communicating with the teacher and school staff early in the school year will make it easier for you to talk to staff and understand the situation when a real concern does arise.