You and your child's teacher have a common goal:
To help your child be successful and get the best education possible.
How To Make Parent-Teacher Conferences Work For Your Child
Here Are Some Things To Keep in Mind
Start the conference right: be there on time, and plan not to run over the amount of time that has been set aside. If you are a working parent who can’t arrange to meet during regular hours, make this clear to the teacher and try to set up a time to meet that is good for both of you.
Getting Ready
Talk to your child before the conference. Find out what your child thinks are the best subjects and which subjects your child likes the least. Find out why. Make sure your child is not worried about the meeting. Help your child understand that you and the teacher are meeting together in order to help him/her achieve. Have a list of questions that you would like to discuss at the conference. Be ready to discuss how you are working with your child and home and what is and isn't working.
The Conference
The following are some good questions to ask:
How well does my child get along with others?
What are my child’s best and worst subjects?
Is my child working up to his or her ability?
Does my child participate in class discussions and activities?
Have you noticed any sudden changes in the way my child acts? For example, have you noticed any squinting, tiredness or moodiness that might be a sign of physical or other problems?
What kinds of tests are being done?
What do the tests tell about my child’s progress?
How does my child handle taking tests?
After the Conference
Start immediately on the action plan you and the teacher worked out together. Discuss the plan with your child. Make sure he or she knows that you and the teacher care. To see if the action plan is working, watch your child’s behavior and check your child’s class work and homework. Stay in touch with the teacher to discuss the progress your child is making. Meeting with your child’s teachers should help build strong parent-teacher partnerships that are needed if you and your child’s teachers are to reach your common goal of helping your child get the best education possible.
