At the beginning of every school year and possibly in the Spring, will be the parent-teacher conference. These conferences are important to give parents valuable information about how their student is doing academically, social, and emotionally at school. The parent-teacher conference meetings are designed to help each student bring greater success to their academics.

What is the purpose of the parent-teacher conference?

The purpose of the parent-teacher conference will and should be specific for each student. While the beginning of the school year conference will lay out the foundation of goals specific for the student for the school year. The spring conference will follow up on those goals and the student’s overall growth.

Teachers will share various assessments, assignments, and progress related to peers. As well is gathering helpful information from the parent. This may include what parents think about their child’s level of academic and social performance and what they can provide in strategies that can motivate their child as well.

If the conference is a student-led conference, the student will have a conference script that will detail goals they want to achieve and showcase assignments they worked on. The teacher will be apart of the student-led conference too!

How do you prepare for the parent-teacher conference? Tips for Parents:

The following strategies can you help you prepare for a successful parent-teacher conference no matter what grade or age level your child is in.

1. Prepare a short list of questions.

What do you want to know about how your child is doing socially, academically, and emotionally at school? Write down your questions so you don’t forget them. Seek specific information, like:

• Why does your child never has math homework?
• Are you concerned your child is lagging behind in Social Studies?
• Would tutoring help?
• Why does your child get detention all the time?
• Is your child shy at school? Do they have trouble making friends?

2. Arrive on time.

You might be surprised at the number of parents who arrive late, expecting the instructor will be waiting, only to find she’s already started the next conference! Yes, your time is valuable. The teacher’s time is too, and she has many more students and families to accommodate.

Keep in mind that the teacher is on a schedule. Some teachers actually need to schedule their conferences every 15 minutes! If you keep questions and concerns concise and brief, you’ll both be less frustrated about what must be accomplished.

3. Listen

The teacher will have an agenda of everything they is required to review during the parent-teacher conference, and probably some optional items, too. When the conference begins, take the teacher’s direction in terms of how to proceed.

• Some teachers want to get through their agenda before entertaining your questions.
• Others are willing to suspend their formal review to address your questions and concerns.
• Other teachers may simply ask what you would like to accomplish during the conference.

If this is a student-led conference, let your child get through their parent teacher conference script they have written. Then go into questions. Most students are nervous and just want to get it over with!

4. Inquire about teaching strategies.

If you’re curious about how the teacher approaches a certain subject with the kids, your conference is a good time to ask about it.

5. Cooperate with the teacher.

For example, if the teacher states they’d like you to email about your student’s math homework, wholeheartedly agree to do it. And then follow through.

• Your cooperation with the teacher is integral to the process of ensuring your child gets a good education.

We also understand you are busy and have other children to attend to. Most teachers have a family too but also have 30 to upward to 150 students depending on the grade level to attend to as well!

6. Show appreciation.

The teacher conference is a long day for teachers. Especially if teachers are doing a one-day, full-day conference. Teachers can expect to see a lot of families in one day and can go well into the evening. Remember, everyone wants to be recognized for their professional skills. Let the teacher know you notice what they are doing with your child. Thank them for their hard work.

7. Practice

If you are doing a virtual parent-teacher conference on Zoom or another digital format, practice and set it up beforehand. Have your child help you since they may have a bit more practice than you!

8. Bring your child with you!

I’ve been in parent-teacher conference meetings that were student-led and the student didn’t come. Ugh! Unless the teacher states NOT to bring your student to the conference, bring them! It will be especially easy if you are online!

Usually, allowing your child to come to the conference has already been mentioned somewhere in newsletters, email, or even on the school website. This also is a good tip to always make sure you have read guidelines, notes, and other teacher correspondence before you show up!

How do you prepare for the parent-teacher conference? Tips for Teachers:

1. Give multiple ways for parents to contact, meet with you and sign-up.

This is either a in-person conference, phone conference, email, online Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Whatever is easier for the parent is the way to go!

2. If having an in-person conference…

Bring a bag of candy and put in a large bowl (if allowed in 2020-2021).  Eating always everything a bit easier. Also, if there are younger siblings present, lay out some coloring sheets or paper to draw on so they can stay busy!

3. Be Positive

If you have had a chatty student that have spent more time refocusing than learning, I know it might be hard to not start talking about the negative. Try to always start positive and end positive.

Parents know their child, especially if they have received phone calls and emails about them and it hasn’t been always happy calls. The conference is about trying new strategies to bring success, not bring up negative past experiences. Move forward and make a request of options you and the parent can try with their child.

4. Have a Visual

Always give a visual for the parent to refer to. I always print a progress report, goals, current grades and missing assignments, examples of student work.

5. Give at-home options

With distance learning at the focal point for back to school in 2020, giving options where students can learn and thrive at home are important. Parents most likely will ask you what their child can do it at home and give at least (3) options.

1. Reading for 20 minutes a day -either independently or aloud to a parent/sibling.

2. Write in journal – free write or use journal prompts

3. Online enrichment – I always give the option of noredink.com because it’s free but you can refer other enrichment options if you district has them available.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of your roll during the parent-teacher conference, make sure to do your part to have a helpful, informative conference to refer to. Parents and teachers must be “in it together” when it comes to education. Following these strategies will help you have a successful parent-teacher conference, and ultimately, the student will reap the benefits of all efforts.