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Home › Articles › Back to School Headquarters › Talking with the Teacher

Talking with the Teacher

Making the Most out of Parent-Teacher Conferences

By Cinthia Haan

Pages:  1  2  

  • Listen carefully to not only what the teacher is saying, but what she is not saying. There are no dumb questions, so ask away, both about your child as well as the curriculum and methods being utilized.
  • To be an effective advocate for your child, this must be a true conversation, not an interrogation.
  • Freely share your insights and any information you feel may be useful to help the teacher help your child.
  • Together, devise a plan for remediating any problems and strengthening any weak areas.

    • After the conference:
    • Stay in touch with your child's teacher and any relevant specialists. Ongoing communication is key.
    • Re-enforce academic objectives on the home front. Check homework. Read with your child. Try to participate in and encourage games that have learning value.
    • When the report card arrives, check that it accurately reflects what was said in the conference. If your child's grades and the teacher's comments are at odds, request an immediate meeting.
    • Don't forget to talk with your child about what he is learning and how he feels about school. If your child is the non-communicative type, check his "pulse" through observation.
    • If you are not satisfied with the teacher's response, do not hesitate to schedule a meeting with the principal. Remember: You are your child's best advocate.

    Our children are our most important responsibility. Each of us can improve our child's academic accomplishments by taking that extra bit of time to think through quarterly objectives for our child's education, by working with the teachers and the principal and by communicating with our child.


    Pages:  1  2  

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