5 Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferences

View the accompanying WWLP News Channel 22 Mass Appeal news segment on parent-teacher conferences below or by clicking here.

It’s that time of year where we’ll soon find ourselves sitting across from our child’s teacher, hearing about their academic performance (and hoping for the best!). But how do we make the best out of those parent-teacher conferences? The teachers of The Community Classroom have some advice to offer parents and caregivers before you step over the threshold and towards the teacher’s desk. 

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for extra support.

Not happy with what you are hearing about junior’s progress, or do you think he could use a little extra work with his multiplication skills? The parent-teacher conference is the perfect time to ask for extra support. It could be after-school homework help, it could be in-school tutoring, it could be additional work that’s sent home to reinforce what’s happening in the classroom. Just ask!

2. Ask to see work samples (and your child’s desk!).

You can learn so much as a parent from seeing your child’s latest reading response entry or peaking inside their desk. Even better? Ask your child to show you some of their favorite work samples. It will give you a snapshot of how they are working (and if they are staying organized).

3. Don’t be afraid to ask what something means.

We LOVE our acronyms in education. And we use education lingo so much that we don’t even realize that we are doing it. So if your child’s teacher uses a word that sounds like it might be High Valyrian or an acronym that means nothing to 99% of the population, don’t be afraid to ask them to put it in layman’s terms. 

4. Ask if there are resources you can use at home to support your child.

As classroom teachers, we love when parents ask to support learning at home. It could be games, workbooks, math manipulatives to do hands-on math at home, or some schools even have family resource closets. It never hurts to ask.

5. Ask about your child’s strengths and weaknesses.

As a parent, we want to know what the gaps in learning are so we can help our kids grow. We also want to know where our kids are already shining! Sometimes we forgot to shine a light on the positive with the formality of conference night, but ask your child’s teacher. And there’s nothing like ending the meeting on a high note. It’s the cherry on top!

If you are looking for additional support for your child through tutoring or academic coaching, The Community Classroom can help. Please visit this page for more details.

For further reading, please check out the following resources:

• 5 Signs Your Child Needs Help With Reading
• 5 Signs Your Child Needs Help With Math
• 4 Reading Tips for Parents and Caregivers

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