The upcoming Parent-Teacher Conference is a great way to meet face-to-face with your child’s teacher!  

Sometimes these meetings can be a little awkward, but sometimes they can lead to real understanding of the partnership parents and teachers share in the education of a child.  Also, these conferences are not just limited to the classroom teacher.  If you want to get feedback from the support teachers (Russian, Art, Music, PE, Library), they are available as well, so feel free to make an appointment. 

We’ve got some tips to help you have a successful Parent-Teacher Conference!  

First, the teacher will have an agenda, but feel free to bring a list of questions, such as these found in “Beyond the Bake Sale, The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships”:

• Is my child performing at a proficient level in each subject?  If not, what is your plan for helping my child and what can I do to help?
• What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses?
• Can you explain your grading standards and show me examples of each type of work?
• Does my child need extra help in any area, including socially and emotionally?  What do you recommend?  How can we work together?
• Does my child seem to like school and get along with classmates?
• Have you noticed any changes in my child over the year?

Third, if there is anything you do not understand, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.  Some terminology might be in “education lingo” and not necessarily easy to understand for non-educators.  It’s important for you to understand how to best support your child, so be sure you leave with clear understanding.

Fourth, if there is anything that you have concerns about in the classroom, or any other part of the school, this is a great time to check in and share those concerns with the teacher.  

We hope these tips help you have a successful Parent-Teacher Conference!