What is a parent-teacher conference? It is like a well-child check up for school. When your child is sick you can go to a doctor’s office for a sick visit to address a specific health concern. In addition to sick visits parents/guardians are encouraged to schedule children for a well-child visit annually with their doctor. If there is a specific concern in a students classroom either related to academics, behavior or socially you can reach out to the teacher and ask for a conference to address that specific concern. During the fall a few weeks into the school year all parents/guardians are encouraged to schedule a parent-teacher conference.
Signing up for a parent-teacher conference is one way for parents/guardians to be engaged. That meeting allows the teacher to inform parents about what material the class is covering and specifically how their child is performing, if there are any concerns the teacher has as well as providing an opportunity for parents to share concerns they have. Conferences solidify a team approach between the teacher, parent and child.
What are some ways you can best be prepared for a parent-teacher conference?
-Look at the information sent home each week by the teacher and go through the work with your child. This helps you to be aware of areas your child might be struggling and can help you clarify prior to the conference what questions you want to ask the teacher.
-Be on time and bring a list of questions/concerns – with a class of 18+ students teachers likely have many conferences scheduled. Being on time allows for ample time to meet with the teacher and to allow the teacher to stay on schedule with other appointments. Write down a list of questions or concerns ahead of time so that you will not forget during the conference.
-Keep an open mind – teachers have students’ best interest in mind. There are times teachers may have noticed something parents haven’t noticed or they may be seeing something that parents don’t usually see at home. Be prepared to take note of recommendations the teacher might make and as a team figure out how to best support your child moving forward.
-Sign up for a conference even if you don’t have any concerns – A conference is a great way to get to know the teacher and provides you the opportunity to say thank you for everything the teacher does and to show that you are an engaged parent and willing to be a part of the team to ensure your child succeeds.
