14 Questions Parents Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Ask Teachers

Two teachers shared with me that they have had both students and parents admit (with embarrassment), especially this late in the game, that they really have no idea how to even begin accessing the virtual learning platforms and resources.

"Don't be embarrassed!" says one teacher in Michigan. "This is new for all of us, so please ask, if you have any problems accessing anything."

In the same vein, parents might get overwhelmed by trying to figure out what's actually due for their child, and what is optional, or enrichment, material. If it's not clear to you what your child actually has to submit — and exactly how to submit that work — be sure to ask.

Many teachers are utilizing Google Classroom to set up assignments for their students. When they use the assignment feature, there is an option for students to submit right from the assignment. The feature is super handy because your child can submit their work through things like snapping a picture right from their computer, uploading a video, or attaching a file. But if you haven't used it before, it might be confusing. Even if it seems simple, don't be afraid to ask how to make sure work is getting submitted on time.

You can get straight to the point here: How is your child being evaluated through remote learning? Will their work be graded? Is the semester going to be a pass-fail situation? What happens if they miss some of the meetings?

It's helpful if you know exactly what your child is being evaluated on, so you can help meet the goals and standards set by your specific state and school.

Don't be afraid to come right out with the question that you're probably wondering: Do you have the right to opt out of virtual learning altogether? Every state has different requirements right now, and for some families, virtual learning is just not feasible or accessible, so don't be afraid to ask. Communicate with your child's teacher about any challenges you are facing.

Maybe you're worried that your child isn't doing enough or maybe you're worried that you're not doing enough. Either way, communicate with your child's teacher. They may be able to suggest additional ways to support your child's education or ease your fears about staying on track.

Obviously, a virtual classroom might not be able to provide the type of one-on-one instruction or help your child may need, but there may be additional resources your child's teacher can assist you with, or point you to.

With chat and video features that younger students will probably understand more than some experienced teachers, classroom management can still be a challenge, even virtually. Some teachers have reported students' private chatting during classes, for instance, or that kids "accidentally" leave their camera on when they shouldn't. Even though different rules might apply right now, it's still important to know if your child is being disrespectful.

On a related note, be sure you're aware of what the teacher's strategy is for addressing any disrespectful behavior while in a virtual class as well, so you can help them implement any necessary consequences.

It's important to remember that this is all new for teachers, too, and many of them are under enormous amounts of pressure to literally redo their entire curriculum with no prep time, learn new technology, keep up with their own staff meetings, guide each student individually, and communicate with frustrated parents — all while caring for their own children at home, too.

If there is any way that you can communicate to your child's teacher that you're on their team, it's an invaluable show of support. "Teachers are so grateful when they have the support from parents," one teacher told Mom.com. "It's the best thing for the child, parent, and teacher, when there is support all around."

One virtual kindergarten teacher from California tells Mom.com that she totally understands if a parent needs to ask her to notify them if their child isn't paying attention in class. Many parents are working from home and might not be monitoring their child's every move during class, so she's happy to work with parents if there are any behavioral issues during lessons. But any request like that should definitely come from you as the parent.

One challenge of virtual learning is that a parent may only be getting information from their child on how classes are going — not their teacher. So, if you are hearing anything negative from your child about what's happening with their classes, it's very important that you communicate directly with the teacher. "It can be helpful to hear the teacher's view of a situation," explains one educator.

With privacy concerns, or even just concerns that you might accidentally walk into a virtual classroom without pants on, one kindergarten teacher said she supports parents asking if their child has to turn on video to participate in class.

With accessibility challenges, not all students can attend virtual classes, or they might need help outside of scheduled times, so teachers are holding "office hours" or making themselves available to students in other ways. But without in-person classrooms, parents might not know the best time or way to reach their child's teacher. So, they should just ask. Most teachers are going above and beyond to make themselves available, even outside of "normal" school hours.

Again, parents and teachers are in this difficult situation together — but that doesn't mean that parents have to suffer through remote learning silently. If something is not working, they should ask their child's teacher about some possible strategies that could make things eaiser.

If parents have suggestions for getting more creative at home while meeting requirements for school, by all means, they should share them.

This is a team effort with one goal in mind: making this the best possible environment for kids.