Prepare and Ask the Right Questions in Your Parent Teacher Conference
Parent Teacher Conference is coming, and you need answers. Your child comes home every day from school frustrated and sad, and you need help making school a good experience, but you aren't sure what to say. This article will help you decide on the problems your child has been having and how to get help from their teacher.
Steps
- Develop 5 questions specific to your child.
- Make a list of positives and negatives your child is having.
- Introduce yourself to the teacher, and let the teacher know where you can be reached.
- Ask questions. What is the class going to cover this year, and how can I help? What can we do at home to help?
- Say a few words about your child's special interests and positive qualities, but you don't have to go into every dark secret. Your child may behave differently with this teacher; talking about negative qualities at this stage could put those expectations in a new teacher's mind.
- Volunteer to help out. Let the teacher and the principal know when you're available. You could help chaperone a field trip, read to kids for an hour or two a week, or print the class newsletter on your home computer. But don't offer to do more than you really have time for. Be consistent. Be someone the teacher can count on.
Tips
- Be open-minded to suggestions from the teacher.
- Jot down everything that you want to talk about at the conference.
- Express appreciation for the conference.
- Keep your emotions under control.
- Avoid lengthy discussions of topics that are not related to the purpose of the conference.
- Ask your child if there is anything that he would like you to discuss with the teacher.
- Do not stay beyond your allotted time.
- Take notes about what has been discussed to share with your child.
- Arrive promptly or a few minutes early.
- Begin with positive comments about the teacher or classroom.
- Ask what are the subjects that your child does best and what needs more work on.
- If there is clearly one that your child is struggling with, you should focus on reinforcing your effort on helping your child at home
- Be positive!
- Be prepared.
- Avoid confrontation.
- Parent-Teacher conferences are short, usually only 20 minutes, so make the most out of every conference.
- Stay cool, calm and collected.
Warnings
- Remember you have only heard half of the story from your child, so don't be too quick to judge or come to conclusions.
- Although it is hard to hear comments and criticism about your children, try not to take it personally; creating conflicts with your child's teachers can compromise how they are treated.
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