Here’s some required reading for all parents who are heading into the school conference season. It’s brought to you from our friends at the National Association of School Psychologists, and was originally published on their website, NASPonline.org. Our thanks to NASP for sharing it with us.
Home and school—everyone shares the goal of helping children learn and feel successful. Research has proven that when parents and teachers work together, everyone benefits: Students tend to earn higher grades, perform better on tests, attend school more regularly, have better behavior, and show more positive attitudes toward themselves and toward school. School programs that include strong parent involvement are more effective. Yet, collaboration between parents and teachers is not always a smooth process.
Establishing an effective home-school partnership requires efforts from both teachers and parents to create a trusting, equitable relationship. Sometimes parents must first deal with their own discomfort with schools and teachers. If parents have experienced difficulty in school, then they may have to overcome negative feelings that carry over from their own childhood. If parents are new to the community, come from another culture, or do not speak fluent English, then they may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of attending a conference with their child’s teacher or participating in a Family Night or School Open House.
Try not to worry or be afraid of a conference with your child’s teacher. Even if you have talked frequently with school personnel about your child’s failing grades or misbehavior, a conference may be an opportunity to start a cooperative partnership with teachers.
Parent-teacher conferences are valuable opportunities to connect with your child’s teacher, gain insights into their progress, and partner to support their education However, if you’re not sure what to expect at these meetings, you may feel nervous and miss out on making the most of the experience This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to make parent-teacher conferences productive and positive.
What is a Parent-Teacher Conference?
A parent-teacher conference is a scheduled meeting between parents and their child’s teacher. These meetings generally take place once or twice a year at progress reporting periods The conferences provide a chance for in-depth, face-to-face conversations about the student’s academic performance, behavior, social skills, strengths, and areas for improvement
While kids are sometimes present at the beginning of conferences, the bulk of the meeting involves just parents and the teacher. Conferences typically last 15-30 minutes and follow a structured format outlined by the teacher. Most conferences take place in the classroom or a meeting room at school.
What is Discussed at Conferences?
Parent-teacher conferences have an agenda guided by the teacher. Here are some of the key topics covered:
Academic performance – Reviewing grades, test scores, progress on learning standards, assignments, and areas of strength or weakness across subjects.
Behavior – Discussing the student’s conduct in class, interactions with peers, participation, and any behavior problems.
Social development – Observations about the child’s friendships, recess interactions, emotional regulation and social skills.
Study habits – Feedback on organization, focus, work completion, homework habits and other work skills.
Learning style – Insights into how the child learns best and struggles. Ways parents can support the learning style at home.
Goals setting – Collaborating to set goals for the rest of the year and strategizing supports to meet them.
Questions/concerns – Time for parents to ask questions and get answers about curriculum, grades, testing, or any other issues.
Teachers come prepared with the student’s work samples, test results, grades, and detailed observations to provide context for the discussion. Parents should also prepare questions ahead of time.
How Often do Conferences Happen?
Most schools schedule parent-teacher conferences twice per year, corresponding with progress reporting periods like the end of a semester or trimester grading period. Some schools hold them once a year.
Conferences usually take place in the afternoon and evening to accommodate parent work schedules. Some schools offer a conference week with no classes so meetings can take place during school hours.
Many teachers will reach out to schedule additional conferences as needed if the student is struggling and more frequent communication is required. Parents can also request extra conferences if desired.
What Should Parents do to Prepare?
To make the most of parent-teacher conferences, it’s important for parents to prepare ahead of time:
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Review notices and work – Look over any notes, graded work, tests, and progress reports from the teacher prior to the meeting. Make note of any patterns or concerns.
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Talk to your child – Ask your child how they think school is going and if they have any issues to discuss with the teacher so you have context.
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Make a list of questions – Write down any questions about grades, behavior, curriculum, testing, or other topics you want to ask. Prioritize in case time runs short.
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Share relevant information – Inform the teacher of any changes at home, challenges your child is facing, or additional context that could impact their education.
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Bring a notepad – Take notes during the conference so you remember the teacher’s feedback and suggested next steps.
Thorough preparation ensures you make the best use of the limited meeting time.
What is the Conference Format?
While the exact format varies by school, most parent-teacher conferences follow a similar structure:
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Introduction – The teacher greets parents, provides an overview of the agenda and format, and confirms the time available.
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Progress overview – The teacher summarizes the student’s overall academic progress, work habits, behavior, and social development.
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Review of work – The teacher shares and explains samples of the child’s work, grades, and test results.
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Goal setting – The teacher and parents collaborate to identify areas for improvement and set academic goals for the rest of the term or year.
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Questions – Parents have the opportunity to ask their prepared questions and raise any other concerns.
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Action planning – The teacher and parents discuss action steps, resources, and plans to address concerns and support the student’s progress.
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Wrap-up – The teacher summarizes the conversation, next steps, and timeline for follow-up communication.
This structured approach helps optimize the limited time available. Teachers usually guide the conversation, but parents should also come prepared with their own questions and concerns to raise.
Tips for Parents During the Conference
To have a productive parent-teacher conference, keep these tips in mind:
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Arrive on time – Teachers have a packed schedule of back-to-back meetings. Arriving promptly shows respect for the teacher’s time.
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Let the teacher lead – Allow the teacher to guide the conversation according to their agenda. Raise your own questions/concerns during pauses.
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Focus on solutions – If issues arise, maintain a collaborative tone focused on finding solutions rather than blaming.
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Take notes – Jot down key feedback and action steps so you can refer back and follow up.
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Share insights – Offer additional context about your child that could explain any struggles. Partnership is key.
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Stay calm – If you disagree with the teacher, stay composed. Set up a follow-up call or meeting if more discussion is needed.
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Show appreciation – Thank the teacher for their time and dedication. Positively acknowledging their hard work fosters cooperation.
Being prepared, engaged, calm, collaborative, and solution-oriented sets the stage for a productive conference.
Questions Parents Should Ask at Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are your best opportunity to get detailed insights about your child directly from the teacher. Take advantage of the access by having key questions prepared ahead of time. Here are some important questions for parents to ask:
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What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses academically?
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Does my child participate appropriately in class? What is their behavior like?
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How does my child interact with peers? Do they have strong friendships?
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What supports my child’s specific learning style? What are challenging areas?
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How can I support what is being taught in class at home?
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What are the most important goals for my child to achieve this year? How can I help?
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How can we best communicate going forward about my child’s progress?
Having a list of well-thought-out questions makes the conference more productive and keeps the conversation focused. Take notes on the teacher’s responses so you can reference later.
Following Up After the Conference
The parent-teacher conference is not meant to be a one-off event. To derive maximum benefit, make sure to follow up appropriately after your meeting:
- Review your notes and research anything unclear
- Discuss next steps with your child and encourage their input
- Implement action plans and recommendations from the teacher
- Set reminders to follow up on any open items
- Frequently check in with your child about progress
- Maintain open communication with the teacher
Like any successful collaboration, consistency after the initial meeting is key. Together parents and teachers can better support each child reaching their potential.
Partnering With Teachers Through Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are a cornerstone for developing the strong partnership between parents and teachers that benefits students. While conferences require preparation and engagement, they offer invaluable face time with your child’s teacher to align on goals, address concerns, and strategize ways to help your child thrive both inside and outside of school. Maintaining an open, collaborative mindset ensures conferences are productive. With parents and teachers working together, each child has the optimal support system to succeed.
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A school psychologist offers advice on nurturing this critical relationship.
Here’s some required reading for all parents who are heading into the school conference season. It’s brought to you from our friends at the National Association of School Psychologists, and was originally published on their website, NASPonline.org. Our thanks to NASP for sharing it with us.
Home and school—everyone shares the goal of helping children learn and feel successful. Research has proven that when parents and teachers work together, everyone benefits: Students tend to earn higher grades, perform better on tests, attend school more regularly, have better behavior, and show more positive attitudes toward themselves and toward school. School programs that include strong parent involvement are more effective. Yet, collaboration between parents and teachers is not always a smooth process.
Establishing an effective home-school partnership requires efforts from both teachers and parents to create a trusting, equitable relationship. Sometimes parents must first deal with their own discomfort with schools and teachers. If parents have experienced difficulty in school, then they may have to overcome negative feelings that carry over from their own childhood. If parents are new to the community, come from another culture, or do not speak fluent English, then they may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of attending a conference with their child’s teacher or participating in a Family Night or School Open House.
Try not to worry or be afraid of a conference with your child’s teacher. Even if you have talked frequently with school personnel about your child’s failing grades or misbehavior, a conference may be an opportunity to start a cooperative partnership with teachers.
Top 5 Questions to Ask at Your Parent Teacher Conference
What to expect from a parent-teacher conference?
Planning ahead can also help you address important topics at the conference. In this article, we discuss what to expect from a parent-teacher conference as well as a few other questions you might have about them. Parent-teacher conferences update parents on the academic progress of their child during the school year.
What is a parent-teacher conference?
A parent-teacher conference is a meeting between a student’s parents and teacher or teachers, to discuss the child’s progress academically, socially and with regard to expected classroom behavior. Other topics, such as homework, emotional challenges, or issues with friends, may also come up.
How do I prepare for a parent-teacher conference?
Include the specific topics you expect to discuss in the agenda that you share. Here are a few tips you can use during the parent-teacher conference: Provide parents with copies of assignments: This gives parents evidence that supports their child’s grades while giving them the opportunity to view their child’s work.
How long should a parent-teacher conference last?
Most parent-teacher conferences only last 10 or 15 minutes. That’s not a lot of time to connect with your child’s teacher. But with a little preparation and planning, you can make the most of this time. Here are nine tips that can help. 1. Look over schoolwork.
