What kind of relationships are you building?

It's always easy for me to build a relationship with my students. But, it is the parents who pay the monthly fee and it's with them, that I really need to build a relationship with, for them to consider staying on in lessons from year to year.
Here are some things to consider?
1) Am I trustworthy? Do they feel like they are getting their money's worth? To gain that trust I must be prepared, planned and ready to teach when they come into class.
2) What's my image? Dressed to teach or dressed to work on the garden? Impressions go a long way whether its first time or week 28.

3) Keeping in touch? How often do you contact your parents to ask how things are going? Once a month? Twice a year? Never? If you think, that if they don't call you with a problem, that means everything is all right, you may be right but how about taking care of that question with a quick phone call? Phoning and touching base means you care and caring builds relationship, and relationship brings your students back next year.

4) Thank you? Thank your parents for giving of their time to commit to you. Thank them for coming to you with a concern regarding their child, thank them for reminding you that you forgot to hand out stickers. If they come to you are are really ticked off about something, you said or did, listen to their concerns and thank them. It cools things down really quickly and it shows your value their concerns.
5) Benefits? They are tremendous. You will have returning students for the fall, enrollment of siblings and referrals to their friends, family and acquaintances.