Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences
Teacher and Parent Work Together for Best Education for the Child
Aug 21, 2009
Whether a child is in grade school, middle school or high school it is important to maintain communication between parents and teachers. Research has shown that children whose parents are involved in their education make higher grades and participate more in school activities. The first line of communication is attending the parent-teacher conference.
Most schools set up days about three times a year for parent-teacher conferences. This allows parents an opportunity to see how their child is doing in school and meet the teachers their child spends each day with. It is important to attend these conferences no matter how the child is doing in school. Opening up a line of communication with each teacher will go a long way in helping a child succeed in school.
Preparing for the Conference
Attending the conferences is not mandatory, so it is up to parents to take the time and make the effort to attend. Here are some tips to help make each and every conference a success.
- Be prepared. Before attending the conference ask the child if he has any concerns or questions that he'd like discussed with the teacher. Look over the child's schoolwork to see what subjects he is doing well in or having trouble with. Make notes on questions to ask so the conversation will stay on track. Being prepared will make the conference time more productive for both the parent and the teacher.
- Important questions to ask. If meeting the teacher for the first time, parents may want to ask such questions as: What important topics or skills will the children be learning this year? Is the teacher open to different learning styles? Are classes structured for individual or group learning? How much homework should the student expect? How is the child performing as compared to the class as a whole? What can parents do at home to help their child succeed in school? By asking these and other similar questions parents will give the teacher a chance to share necessary information on how she teaches and what she expects from students.
At the Conference
- Be on time. Generally, teachers have scheduled several conferences in one day or night so their time with each parent is limited. Be respectful of their time and show up at the designated time. If parents have come prepared, they should be able to cover the most important topics in the time allotted.
- Come with a positive attitude. The school and teachers really do want what is best for each child so come with the attitude that everyone is working toward the same goal. Be polite and listen carefully as well as asking questions. Discuss concerns and listen as the teacher discusses her concerns about the child. Even if there is a disagreement on some topics or styles of teaching it will not help matters to argue with the teacher or become upset. Try to work out any disagreements in a civil manner. If the parents and the teacher really do not see eye to eye it is best to have a meeting with a school counselor or the principal at a later date. Arguing with the teacher will not solve problems and only make communication harder in the future.
- Plan together how to solve any specific problems. If the child is having trouble with certain subjects or behavior issues, work with the teacher on how to solve these problems. Working as a team will make helping the child much easier for the parent and the teacher.
- Discuss the child's strengths. Don't just dwell on the negatives; discuss the positive aspects of the child's education as well. Both parent and teacher can continue to reinforce the positive strengths with the child while helping to correct the weaknesses.
- End on a positive note. Thank the teacher for his time and tell the teacher to feel free to contact either parent any time there are concerns or issues he wishes to discuss. Keeping open communication between parents and the teacher is important in helping the child with his education.
After the Conference
Once the conference is over don’t forget what was discussed and wait for the next conference to see if anything has improved or changed. It is important for parents to continue to monitor their child’s schoolwork and listen to their child when he discusses his own concerns about school. Keep the communication open with his teacher if any issues arise between conferences. Being involved in a child’s education and having a good relationship with a child’s teacher and school can go a long way toward helping children have a successful school year.
Resources
Parent Involvement = Student Success by America’s Career Resource Network
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