10 Tips on Aceing Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences are a great way to get feedback from your child’s teacher(s). With a bit of preparation, you can make your meeting time a positive one. Here’s how:
1. If you have concerns, don’t wait until Parent-Teacher conference time to express them. Call the teacher or e-mail him/her with your questions or concerns promptly. Don’t hold all your issues inside and then ‘dump’ on the teacher during your time slot. That’s unfair. Again: if you have issues with the teacher, they should be dealt with WAY before you schedule your conference time. A phone call, e-mail or private meeting with the teacher is a better way to handle tough situations.
2. Bring a pad of paper and pen or pencil. Take good notes. When your son or daughter is in middle or high school he/she will have several teachers. Unless you’re a super-human, you’ll never remember what was said once you leave the school.
3. Ask good questions:
- What do you think is holding Marcus back from getting better grades?
- Have you noticed a change in Susie’s behavior or attitude since the beginning of the school year?
- How does Devon compare to the rest of the class? You’re goal is not to compare one child to another; however…you have a right to know if your son or daughter is at the low-end or high-end of the class. How does this placement compare to last year?
- Does Shawna seem focused when she’s in your class?
- Can Bobby re-do any assignments and get a better score?
- Is there a chance for any extra credit to help bring up Jared’s grade?
- Do you offer one-on-one help before or after school?
4. Time is precious…use it wisely. Be prepared. Many schools offer online access to their child’s classroom grades, attendance records, etc. Take advantage of this resource and check the site at least weekly to keep tabs on your son or daughter’s progress.
5. Be on time. And don’t be a time-hog. Lots of parents need to make it through the conference process…and some have to be at other conferences at other schools. Be respectful.
6. Be positive and courteous. Teaching is a tough job. Thank your child’s teacher for what he/she does.
7. If you bring your son or daughter to the conference, please don’t start a verbal lashing in the hallway. My wife and I recently experienced such a thing. It was ugly. I was ashamed of the parent and felt sorry for the daughter. Those kind of conversations should be held at home; not in front of fellow students and parents. No child deserves to be degraded in such a way. Period.
8. Security and safety are important. Pay attention to the physical appearance of the school. Make notes on things you feel are trouble areas or unsafe for your child. Mention them during the conference if appropriate, or follow-up with an e-mail to the teacher or school principal.
9. A day or two after the conference, go the extra mile and send a follow-up email to each teacher you met with. Include the following points:
- Thank them for their time and remind them that you are engaged in your child’s learning experience and will appreciate their feedback.
- Ask them to call or e-mail you if they see a change in your student’s behavior.
- Tell them you want to deal with issues before they become serious.
10. Don’t blow them off. Make every effort to tweak your schedule so you can attend the conference. They are usually only twice a year. Do everything possible to be there!
Do you have a tip or trick on making parent-teacher conferences successful? Please — leave a comment on this post or start a discussion in the TNP Forum!
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