If you do not feel that your daughter’s teacher is a good match for her personality, start by arranging to spend an hour or two in the classroom so you can observe how the teacher interacts with your child. If you would still like to talk to your child’s teacher about your concerns after spending some time in the classroom, set up a time to talk to the teacher outside of class time. It might be tempting to speak to an administrator first, to avoid a potential confrontation with the teacher, but talk to your daughter’s teacher first to give the teacher a chance to fix the problem. When you meet with your child’s teacher, use a constructive, positive tone to avoid making your child’s teacher respond defensively. The point is to open up a dialogue with your child’s teacher and work together on a solution. If you are unsatisfied with the meeting, you can always ask to meet with the principal of the school. It’s good to be open to the principal’s suggestions, but you should feel comfortable asking to switch your daughter to another classroom if you think that is the best solution.
