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By Shelly Stodd, Vollmer
Each November, many parents attend conferences with their child’s teachers. These meetings help to build strong partnerships that help to reach the common goal of helping students get the best education possible.
All children learn in different ways and have their own individual personalities and habits. In order to assist students in learning new knowledge and skills, teachers should know as much as they can about each child. Since no one knows more about these things than you, the parents, teachers need your help!
Plan Ahead
Teachers will probably come prepared with samples of your child’s work and with ideas to help them do even better in school. You should come prepared too!
Talk to your child
- Ask what your child thinks is his/her best subject.
- Ask what subject s/he likes least and find out why.
- Ask if there is anything that your child would like you to talk about with his/her teachers.
- Make sure your child doesn’t worry about the meeting. Help him or her to understand that you and his/her teachers are meeting together in order to help them.
Write notes to yourself
- Things about your child’s life at home, personality, problems, habits, and hobbies
- Questions about your child’s progress
- Ideas of how you and the school can work together to help your child
During the Conference
Be prepared. Write lists of what you want to know and what you want to say. Here are some questions you might consider asking:
- Is my child performing to expectations in the core areas of reading/language arts and math?
- Could you summarize my child’s strengths and weaknesses in the core areas?
- How would you describe my child’s learning?
- Does my child need extra help in any subject area?
- Does my child regularly complete classwork?
- Does my child regularly turn in homework?
- Does my child actively participate in class discussions and activities?
- How well does my child get along with others?
Be sure to ask the teachers for specific suggestions on ways to help your child do better. This will become your action plan.
Begin immediately on the action plan you and the teachers worked out together.
Discuss the plan with your child. Make sure s/he knows that you and the teachers care.
Watch your child’s behavior and check his/her classwork/homework to see if the action plan is working.
Stay in regular contact with the teachers to discuss progress your child is making.
Working together, you and your child’s teachers can help your child have a successful school year!
