At BASIS Independent Manhattan, we believe that strong parent-teacher partnerships are essential to student success. Our dedicated teachers are passionate about providing a nurturing and supportive learning environment and are committed to open communication and collaboration with parents.

In this blog post, our teachers offer experiential advice on how to start the school year off right. Building lasting relationships is possible with these top three tips for parents of students at any age:

1. Attend events
2. Reach out
3. Meet in person

Tips for Parents: Start Strong with Effective Communication from Day One

1. Attend back-to-school events to establish initial connections with teachers.

At the start of the year, we emphasize relationship-building within our Wildcat community! In addition to Meet the Teacher nights, we also have welcome-back carnivals at both the Upper and Lower Schools for socializing in a relaxed atmosphere.

• Attending parent events has been a game-changer for me. It’s great to get to know parents and build a personal connection. This has really strengthened my relationships with families and helped me better support their children.

  Mr. Smith Visual Arts SET, Upper School

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2. Proactively reach out to teachers with questions or concerns, especially at the beginning of the year. You can share your child’s strengths, interests, and any challenges they may be facing, but be prepared to work in partnership with the teacher. Math Subject Expert Teacher, Ms. Perez remembers when a parent reached out to share that their upper school student struggles with math even though they put in a lot of effort. Establishing that connection early opened up so many options for support.

• This insight helped me better prepare for supporting the student, ensuring I worked with the parent to address difficulties before they became overwhelming. It also allowed me to be more understanding and patient with the challenges the student faced.

  Ms. Perez Math SET, Upper School

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Our Learning and Subject Expert Teachers subscribe to this trust-building type of collaboration that requires impactful two-way communication. In our experience, a strong teacher-parent partnership addresses specific student needs, increases learning, and benefits the child’s well-being.

BASIS Independent Manhattan has a unique system that replaces traditional parent-teacher conferences, typically hosted twice for only 15-20 minutes, with weekly parent hours. Teachers are accessible to parents to discuss their child’s progress, set goals, and identify a support plan if needed.

Our teachers have found that it is best when parents come prepared to ask specific questions and follow up on any action items discussed during these meetings. Mr. Smith also notes, “Parents play a huge role in keeping students accountable outside the classroom, which ensures that when they are at school, we are able to be as productive as possible.”

By fostering a team sensibility, we create a supportive and collaborative learning environment that benefits our students. Remember, open communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to your child’s success are key to building lasting relationships.

Thank you to our amazing teachers for their dedication and passion. We are grateful for your commitment to our students and our school community.

If you are interested in this kind of parent-teacher relationship or would like to meet our incredible teachers, please attend one of our Fall Open Houses.