--Start the year with an open mind. While some of the students in your son's class may indeed have problems behaving, they also may have changed over the summer. Try to help your child not to prejudge what will happen with them.

--Empower your child to ignore annoying, but not harmful, bad behavior. Kids who talk to another child when he's trying to work, for example, are usually trying to get attention. But if your child talks back -- even if it's to say "Stop bothering me" -- he might get in trouble, too, Towsend said. Sometimes kids tell Townsend that someone "won't stop chasing me" on the playground. "Do you know how to make him stop?" she replies. "Stop running."

--If the child's safety is threatened, involve an adult. If your son has been hurt or is being physically threatened by another student, it's time for him to tell the teacher, says Townsend. That's also the case if another child is seriously interfering with his ability to learn.
"It's important to have the child initiate that on his own for the teacher" if he can, she says; "If they are constantly waiting for mom and dad to come fix the problem, (kids) don't solve that problem on (their) own."

A teacher may already have procedures in place in her classroom for a child to approach her with such a problem. Some have "issue boards" behind their desks where a child can tack a note, says Townsend.

--If you as a parent must get involved, try to do so without your child present. If you're really worried about the group of kids your child will be in class with and want to talk with the teacher beforehand, do it without your child there, Townsend says -- and it's best if he doesn't even know about the meeting. If he thinks you're very worried, that will reinforce in his mind that this is going to be a very rough year with his peers. The teacher may be able to offer perspective about the children in question that will ease your mind, while sharing her planned system of discipline.