Sometimes communicating with your teen about school or communicating with the school about your teen can be a challenge! 

Here are some tips to ensure that this two-way communication goes smoothly.

• Express high expectations of student achievement and future achievement.
• Converse with your teen about everyday events. 
• Monitor and discuss television programming.
• Attend parent/teacher conferences.
• Request translators if needed.
• Read report cards and test scores carefully and ask for clarification if needed.
• Read the school newsletter and the school handbook.
• Comment on homework and send it back to the teacher.
• Call the teacher to check on student progress.
• Fill out school surveys.
• Ask your child open-ended questions.
• Asking “What do you have for homework today?” instead of “Did you finish your homework?” provides an opening for discussion. 
• Be positive. Tell your teen what you like about the way he/she behaves.
• Encourage your teen to respect teachers and to learn from them.
• Don’t be intimidated by school officials. 
• Contact the teacher when you have homework questions.

Source: Arizona Parent and Educational Resource Center.