The Back-to-School Questions Parents Don't Know to Ask

It's back to school season, and if your child's classroom is hosting a back to school night or curriculum night, you may be wondering what to actually listen for, what to ask, and how to ask it without feeling like "that parent."

In episode 97, Miss Beth kicks off a new series on curriculum and homework questions. She breaks down what a typical back to school night covers, the difference between general classroom questions and specific reading questions, and how to raise a concern about curriculum (like a list of sight words to memorize) without putting a teacher on the defensive.

You'll learn:

* Why back to school night is not the time to interrogate a teacher, and what "going in with curiosity" actually sounds like

* The single best general question to ask any teacher: "What does a typical day look like?"

* Why asking how a teacher prefers to communicate can prevent problems before they start

* The exact phrasing to use if your child comes home with a sight word or memorization-based assignment

* Reading-specific questions to ask, including what to say instead of "Do you teach phonics?"

* The one answer about "what to do when a child gets stuck on a word" that should raise a red flag

* How to build a relationship with a teacher who seems resistant to questions, and when to escalate to a principal instead

* A five-question shortlist if you only have time to ask a few things

* Extra questions for parents of high-achieving or easily frustrated kids, including how a classroom handles mistakes