Parent Teacher Conferences | Prepare & Enjoy
The relationship between parent and teacher is vital when it comes to a child's education. Parent teacher conferences provide the ultimate communication channel for partnership and understanding between teachers and parents - prepare for your child's conference this spring with these top tips!
Top Tips for your Parent-Teacher Conference
1. Be on time! Remember, 5 minutes early is 'on time,' 'on time' is late. Mark your calendar and set a reminder in your phone or on your computer.
2. Be prepared! Really there’s only one
question you need to ask your child’s teacher: How can I best help YOU help MY child? Have these other questions in mind, however, and be ready to LISTEN to your teacher's answers, suggestions, and recommendations.
- What would you say are my child’s strengths & learning opportunities?
- How would you rate my child’s behavior and what does it tell you about my child’s learning style?
- How should I track my child’s performance? Are there examples of my child’s work?
- Do you have suggestions for things we can do at home to better support my child’s learning? (Computer Games, Workbooks etc.)
- Are my child’s assignments completed on time and at an appropriate performance level?
- What types of books and educational games do you recommend for my learner? Is there a list of suggested reading?
- How is my child getting along socially with other children?
- What am I not asking or noticing that I should be?
3. Write it down! Don't hesitate to take pen and paper and write down important notes your child's teacher makes regarding your child's learning successes and points of improvement. Digest the discussion , then refer to your notes at a later time to refresh .
4. Share with your child! Let your child know what YOU learned about his or her classroom successes and behaviors. Note some of your favorite aspects of the classroom and what you liked most about their teacher. Take a camera and photograph favorite artwork you liked in the room!
Attending spring conferences might seem like just another bullet point on the already lengthy to-do list, but going into it with the goal to enhance the parent teacher relationship will ultimately make it a positive experience for everyone involved!
Also see: Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up Sheets
