Parent Teacher Conferences - February 9th and February 11th
January 29, 2010
Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences
Bayard Public School - Administration
The parent-teacher conference provides a unique opportunity to
collaborate with a key partner in your child’s education-his or her
teacher. Though this meeting is often all too short, the resulting
advice, strategies, and insight can help both you and the teacher
enhance your child’s success in school.
The following are some suggestions for getting the most out of the
parent-teacher conference:
Be there, and be on time. Attending the conference may very well be
one of the most important things you do for your child this school
year. Keep in mind that the teacher has to meet with a lot of
parents, and the conferences are usually on a tight schedule. Being
punctual or even early will maximize your discussion time.
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure your
concerns are addressed. Be sure to ask about the learning goals and
expectations the teacher has for your child, as well as what
observations the teacher has made with your child’s performance or
behavior.
Discuss specific strengths and weaknesses. By getting details about
what your child is doing well in the classroom, you are in a better
position to offer praise and reinforce those strengths at home. And
by getting a good feel for the areas in which your child needs to
improve, you can better help your child rise above learning
challenges.
Avoid being defensive. When confronted with issues or challenges,
it is easy to get defensive. It is important to keep an open mind,
offer suggestions, and not take these issues personally. The
teacher’s primary aim is your child’s well-being and improvement,
and by raising concerns, the teacher isn’t trying to criticize. He
or she is simply seeking your help to find a solution. Remember,
the teacher has the same goals that parents do – to make sure your
child is successful.
Find out what you can do at home. Parents can reinforce the
learning that is happening in the classroom and have a great impact
on your child’s performance in school. Keep in mind that the
teacher may not offer suggestions if parents don’t ask.
Ask for contact information. The parent conference doesn’t have to
be – and indeed, shouldn’t be – the only time during the year that
parents talk to teachers. Teachers welcome parent involvement.
Share phone numbers and email addresses, and find out the best time
to call. After the conference, make it a habit to get in touch with
the teacher on occasion.
When you get home from the parent-teacher conference, your child is
going to be interested to hear what the teacher had to say. Be
positive and specific. Begin by talking about all the good things
that were discussed, and follow up by talking about what needs to
be done to improve. Use this discussion to praise your child’s
accomplishments in school and offer encouragement for future
efforts.
