New Year New Teacher: How Can Values Help Your Kid?
How to Use Values to Understand the New Teacher, and Set Your Kid Up For Success.
Kids are back to school, and part of your job as a parent is trying to understand what makes the new teacher tick. You want to do everything you can to make sure your kid has a successful year, right? So I thought we’d help out and profile teachers using almost a million surveys in the Valuegraphic Database. Because if you know the core values of your kids new teacher, you know who they are at a deep level. The same way you know your best friends.
We discovered a lot of fascinating things about teachers, but I’ll focus on two values that they share in abundance, far more than the rest of us do. Compassion and Personal Responsibility. Here’s how you can use those two values to set your kid up for the best year yet.
The Value of Compassion: Building a Positive Parent-Teacher Relationship
For teachers, the core value of Compassion manifests in deeply empathetic ways. They prioritize connections and the well-being of others, often stemming from their own life experiences. It’s a guiding principle that fuels their pedagogical approach. Understanding how this value is embedded in a teacher's mindset can offer parents a roadmap for building a positive relationship. Here are some ways to consider:
Acknowledge the Emotional Labor
A simple thank-you note recognizing their efforts can go a long way. Compassionate teachers are not looking for praise, but knowing that their emotional and intellectual labor is valued can deepen the relationship.
Open the Lines of Communication
Teachers who value compassion are, by nature, open communicators. This provides an open door for parents to initiate conversations about their children's well-being, struggles, or successes. Make the time for parent-teacher conferences, but also don't hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns. This keeps the channels of communication open and shows the teacher that you’re as invested as they are in your child's well-being.
Share Resources and Information
Compassionate teachers are always eager to learn, especially if it helps them assist their students better. If you come across an article, book, or resource that you think could be beneficial, share it. It's another way to show that you’re engaged in a cooperative relationship, united in the goal of helping your child succeed.
Personal Responsibility in Teachers: How Parents Can Build a Stronger Bond
Teachers with this value often adhere to a structured approach to life. They will gravitate towards anything that offers them some stability, most likely through planning and consistency. They find peace in predictable environments. So, what can parents do with this information? Here are some suggestions:
Respect the Routine
As a parent, respecting the classroom routines—be it punctuality, homework submissions, or classroom rules—can make a huge difference. This shows the teacher that you too are committed to a structured, stable environment for learning, a direct echo of their own values.
Be Predictable
If you say you're going to do something, do it. Teachers who value personal responsibility are motivated by other people's reliability. Being dependable—as simple as consistently attending parent-teacher meetings or following through on commitments to volunteer—can lay the foundation for a strong, cooperative relationship.
Acknowledge Their Reliability
Just as they are motivated by seeing responsibility in others, these teachers also appreciate it when their own reliability is recognized. A simple comment or note acknowledging how well they manage the classroom or support your child can resonate strongly, affirming that their efforts are seen and valued.
Want this year to be the best year yet for your kid? Get aligned with the teacher!
By understanding the specific ways in which teachers value Compassion and Personal Responsibility you can make a huge difference in how well your kid glides through the year. And it’s really not hard at all. Just honor and respect the work your kids’ teacher does, by honoring their values. You’ll get top marks for sure.