Talking With the Teacher

Making the Most Out of Parent-Teacher Conferences

By Cinthia Haan

People who work in the business world know the value of identifying a set of objectives before going into a business meeting. Parents can use this same technique for their children's parent-teacher conferences and come away with useful information to help their children learn better.

• Review your child's homework, tests and projects so that you are familiar with the curriculum and methods that the teacher is using.
• Write down any questions you have and bring them to the conference.
• Conduct some simple at-home research on what your child knows. For example, have your child read a page or two aloud. Ask her to write some items on the shopping list for you or a short note to someone – use this to check handwriting and spelling. Play a game that involves math at your child's level.
• If you suspect that your child is behind (or ahead of) most of the class in a subject area, be prepared to discuss this with the teacher.
• Schedule appointments with any relevant staff member you will not automatically meet (i.e. principal, guidance counselor, resource room teacher, etc.). These are important relationships to develop.

• Make a note of the schoolwork displayed in the classrooms and hallways. See if your child's is among them; if not, find out why.
• Also scan the posted work for insight into what is being studied and how the material is being approached.
• Go in with a positive approach that assumes the school has your child's best interests at heart.
• 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.

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