One of my greatest joys as a teacher is working with parents who understand the importance of partnering with me to assure their child’s success. While this kind of partnership is vital to a child’s academic success, it is equally important when it comes to behavior.

When a child begins to hit a behavioral “bump” at school, I take note. We all have off days, and children are no exception. But if a certain behavior lasts more than a day or two, or if I begin to see a pattern, I bring it to the attention of the parents. When I do so, the response is often, “We’ve been seeing the same thing at home!” What a relief to all of us to know that we are not just imagining little Liam’s “potty talk” or Angie’s subtle sarcasm.

If a strong parent-teacher partnership is in place, the parents begin to work with their child at home while I do the same at school. I give updates to the parents, and they share with me the steps they are taking to address the issue at home. More often than not, it is only a matter of days before the negative behavior disappears.

When your child enters kindergarten, you form an alliance with his or her teacher. That’s why it’s important that neither you nor your child’s teacher work in isolation. Comparing notes and sharing observations about your child can be invaluable to everyone involved.

A good teacher listens to parents. By listening, I not only gain insight into a mom’s or dad’s particular parenting style, but I often learn something that helps me understand why this particular behavior is showing up at school. How do these parents discipline? Do they set loving boundaries? Are they firm? Indulgent? Do they demand their child’s respect? Do they easily lose their patience or, worse yet, simply ignore their child’s behavior in the hope that it will go away?

There is a proverb that says, “A cord of three strands cannot be easily broken.” That is particularly true when it comes to the parent-teacher relationship. Accountability between the parent and child, the parent and the teacher, and the teacher and the student, can prevent undesirable behavior from spiraling out of control. When a child knows there is a flow of communication between his teacher and his parents, he often backs down, because he realizes the “cord” is too strong.

Parents and teachers are gifts to one another. With just a little effort, each can glean volumes from the other. Enter into this relationship with the expectation of gaining wisdom and, ultimately, of assuring that your child has the best possible start at school. Until next week, happy parenting.

Excerpted from “HOW TO PREPARE FOR KINDERGARTEN: A Common Sense Guide to Getting Your Child and Yourself Ready for Day One,” a work in progress. You can email Laura Whitfield Watts at kinderparent@yahoo.com.