So the Wednesday folders have gone out, the grades are posted, and now it is time to meet with your child's teacher. What are you going to do?
I have had several conferences over the years, and the best ones are those for which I am the most prepared to field questions and talk about a student. The same goes for parents- the more prepared you are, the better advocate you can be for your child. Below are five ways to get ready:
Do some work before the conference: Have you ever been in a meeting, and when you left, you remembered what you actually wanted to say? Yea. Before coming to the conference, make sure to write down any questions or concerns you may have. Also, review all of your child’s assignments leading up to the conference so that you have a good idea as to how your child is performing academically. According to the Harvard Family Research Project, make sure that you ask other stakeholders in your child’s development- coaches, mentors, babysitters, etc.- so that you get a holistic view of your child’s strengths and needs.
Talk with your child: Who else knows better what your child’s strengths, challenges, likes, and dislikes about school are except for your child? Talk with them about their progress ahead of time. Some teachers will allow students the opportunity to complete a reflection form prior to conferences so that their voices are reflected in the conference. An example of this type of document is below.
Assume the best intentions: Educating your child is a partnership between you and the teacher. Both of you want what’s best for your child academically and it is important to remember that when conferencing with the teacher.
Ask teachers for examples (and bring some of your own): If your child excels at finding the main idea in a nonfiction text, or struggles with summarizing a story, ask the teacher for notes or assignments that show this. This makes the conversation about learning data driven and evidence based, and it will help you to understand what certain assignments are and what they gauge.
Make follow up a priority: Finally, and this is arguably one of the most important things to remember, have a plan for follow-up. Have action items agreed upon between you and the teacher such as what support in school should be provided or sought after for your child, and what are the expectations for you, the teacher, and your child moving forward. Also, set a future check in date to see what progress is being made on those action items. This will create a culture of year-round collaboration.
The parent teacher conference can be a great way to learn about your child. The two-way conversation regarding their academic progress can be an opportunity to analyze your child’s strengths and needs, and to establish a relationship with their classroom teacher.
Are there any special things that you do to prepare for a parent-teacher conference? Feel free to share your comments below.
I have had several conferences over the years, and the best ones are those for which I am the most prepared to field questions and talk about a student. The same goes for parents- the more prepared you are, the better advocate you can be for your child. Below are five ways to get ready:
Do some work before the conference: Have you ever been in a meeting, and when you left, you remembered what you actually wanted to say? Yea. Before coming to the conference, make sure to write down any questions or concerns you may have. Also, review all of your child’s assignments leading up to the conference so that you have a good idea as to how your child is performing academically. According to the Harvard Family Research Project, make sure that you ask other stakeholders in your child’s development- coaches, mentors, babysitters, etc.- so that you get a holistic view of your child’s strengths and needs.
Talk with your child: Who else knows better what your child’s strengths, challenges, likes, and dislikes about school are except for your child? Talk with them about their progress ahead of time. Some teachers will allow students the opportunity to complete a reflection form prior to conferences so that their voices are reflected in the conference. An example of this type of document is below.
Assume the best intentions: Educating your child is a partnership between you and the teacher. Both of you want what’s best for your child academically and it is important to remember that when conferencing with the teacher.
Ask teachers for examples (and bring some of your own): If your child excels at finding the main idea in a nonfiction text, or struggles with summarizing a story, ask the teacher for notes or assignments that show this. This makes the conversation about learning data driven and evidence based, and it will help you to understand what certain assignments are and what they gauge.
Make follow up a priority: Finally, and this is arguably one of the most important things to remember, have a plan for follow-up. Have action items agreed upon between you and the teacher such as what support in school should be provided or sought after for your child, and what are the expectations for you, the teacher, and your child moving forward. Also, set a future check in date to see what progress is being made on those action items. This will create a culture of year-round collaboration.
The parent teacher conference can be a great way to learn about your child. The two-way conversation regarding their academic progress can be an opportunity to analyze your child’s strengths and needs, and to establish a relationship with their classroom teacher.
Are there any special things that you do to prepare for a parent-teacher conference? Feel free to share your comments below.
studentreportcard.pdf |