HOW TO ROCK THE PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE (TIPS FOR PARENTS)
5-minute read
As a parent, you are your child’s first, most important teacher. And you share one major thing in common with their classroom teacher: you both want your child to learn, grow, and succeed academically over the coming year.
When parents and teachers take the time to communicate with each other and to share information about a student’s academic skills and challenges, each person learns something new about how to help that child succeed. Time spent in parent-teacher conferences is a great start to what should be an ongoing conversation, so preparation is key to making the most of this crucial meeting.
What To Expect & How To Get The Most From A Parent-Teacher Conference
Two-Way Conversation
Like any good conversation, parent-teacher conferences are best when both parties come prepared to contribute and to listen. This is the time for you to learn about your child’s progress in school. Ask to see data about your child’s attendance, grades, and test scores, and find out if your child is meeting grade-level expectations and academic standards.
This is also a time for the teacher to learn more about what your child is like at home. When you talk with the teacher about your child’s skills, interests, and needs, the teacher will be better equipped to help your child succeed in class.
Emphasis on Learning
Good parent-teacher conversations focus on how well the child is doing in school, but also discuss the means by which your child can do even better.
Take a good look at your child’s recent assignments and tests, any notices they’ve received, and their report cards before conference time. Be sure to keep a list of any questions you might have for their teacher to draw on during your meeting.
Challenges & Opportunity
Just as you do, teachers want your child to succeed. You should expect to hear positive feedback about your child’s progress as well as areas that need work, not only academically, but socially and behaviorally, too.
Be prepared by thinking ahead about your child’s known strengths and challenges. Be ready to ask about what opportunities you and the teacher will have to work together in helping your child achieve their goals and find success both inside and outside of the classroom.
Academic Plan
Whether during the conference or afterward, write out the things that you and the teacher will each plan to accomplish to ensure your child succeeds. Make note of what you will do, when, and how often, and prepare a schedule to check back with the teacher during the months ahead.
Communication is two-way, so ask how you should initiate follow-up contact with the teacher and vice versa, as well as when are the best times to continue your conversation.
Sample Questions
These types of conversations can often feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve come up with the following examples of questions you may want to ask your child’s teacher.
- How are my child’s learning skills?
- Are there any problem areas?
- Does my child participate in class?
- Do they seem engaged with the material?
- How is my child’s behavior?
- Do they exhibit signs of stress?
- Are they succeeding socially?
- Can we set some goals for the upcoming year?
- What can I do at home to encourage continued improvement?
- What is the best way to reach you moving forward?
Now, What?
Parent-teacher conferences should be all about the student, so don’t forget to include your child in the conversation, too! Following the meeting, talk with your child about what you learned about their academic progress. Discuss what you can do to help improve learning at home and encourage them to offer suggestions.
As mentioned, this should be seen as an ongoing conversation and one to be handled with tender loving care. A positive relationship between you, your child’s teacher, and your child can make all the difference in the world throughout the course of the school year. You may also find that enlisting the help of a third party may benefit everyone involved.
“The first thing parents should do is take the time to stay in touch with teachers and monitor schoolwork,” suggests Michelle Scott, Owner/Director of Tutoring Club of McLean. “When you encounter an academic challenge that concerns you, talk with your child and the teacher, but don’t hesitate to seek individualized tutoring to guarantee your child succeeds.”
Michelle Scott
Owner/Director
Tutoring Club of McLean
703.237.TUTOR (8886)
Email:[email protected]
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