Parent-Teacher Conferences

Do you have a teacher conference coming up? Not sure what to ask, what to share about your child? Here are some suggestions:

• Ask the teacher, what the class is studying? What students will study this semester? ...this year? Don't be shy about asking follow-up questions whenever you don't understand. Volunteer resources that you might be able to share.

• Check to see what students are doing in each subject or class? Ask what will be studied in social studies? In math? Ask how the teacher teaches reading (or any other subject)?

• Ask about the kind of learning activities the teacher uses with students. When you believe that certain things work better with your child, share that important information with the teacher in order to help her (or him) adjust activities to best reach your child.

• If you do not recognize something is in the classroom, ask what it is and how it's used if you don't know. It is amazing how things have changed since you were a student.

• Find out how the class is organized. When does your child do group work? When does the whole class work together? What happens with children who learn noticeably faster or slower that classmates? Ask if there are things you can do at home to reinforce what the teacher does in the classroom.

• Ask how the teacher will grade your child’s work. Ask about the different types of tests and projects the teacher uses. Make sure you understand what grades mean or represent before tests and report cards.

• Make sure you know which school rules and policies apply to your child. Ask if you have questions.

• Find out how much homework is assigned. Find out if there will be weekend and/or holiday assignments. If your child is involved in after school activities, be sure to share this information with the teacher. Ask for suggestions if it seems that your child's schedule is going to conflict with homework time.

• If the teacher's time estimate for your child's homework is very different from the time it is actually taking your child to complete the work, discuss this with the teacher right away. He, or she, may have underestimated the time an assignment takes to complete; or, your child may be having unidentified problems that may require special help from you or from the teacher.

• Ask about the kind of discipline used by the teacher and by the school. If you disagree strongly, share your objections "up front" before there is a need to discipline your child. Be prepared to give alternative suggestions for your child. Ask how you can support good behavior in order to help your child be more successful.

• Ask about good time to check back with the teacher on your child's progress.