Each November, the district sets aside time for parent-teacher conferences. Regardless of when they are held during the year, parent-teacher conferences are key to supporting the home-school partnership. Having participated in these meetings as a parent, teacher, and principal, I have learned a lot - I will share a few thoughts that will hopefully help families to make the most of this opportunity.
- Keep the student (your child) as the focus. This may seem obvious, but it can get overlooked. I have observed more than one parent-teacher conference where the interactions become less about the child for a variety of reasons. There are ways to get questions answered about why the curriculum may be organized in a certain way or to discuss a policy concern, but save this for another time.
- Bring an open mind. While you may have an idea of how things are going, I have learned that families don’t really have a clear picture until that first conference. Take everything you hear from your child with a grain of salt, realizing that the conference will give you perspective. It also should be noted that the child we see at school may look different than the child you see at home.
- Jot down a question or two that you hope to discuss. Teachers typically have goals for each conference. Families should, too. At times, these can be identified at the beginning of the meeting. Regardless, considering questions you have ahead of time gives you a chance to reflect prior to the meeting which makes for better conversations.
- Ask what you can do to help. I posed this question as an educator and do so as a parent, too. Parents are partners. The best outcomes I have found from parent-teacher conferences are those where everyone approaches the meeting with the concept of teamwork.
- Be mindful of time. We all would like more time to talk about our students and children. They are the very reason we have come together for these meetings and, as educators, they are the focus of why we do what we do. However, parent-teacher conference days are busy. Should lingering questions remain, discuss a plan to follow up with one another at another time.
Parent-teacher conferences were a favorite part of my work as a teacher, because it gave me an opportunity to celebrate a student’s accomplishments while setting goals for the weeks and months ahead. As a parent, I have valued hearing from our children’s teachers about what they are doing well and where they can continue to grow. By keeping the suggestions I have made in mind, I hope you will find this opportunity to be rewarding as well.
Thank you for all that you do to work as partners to ensure the success of your child(ren).
