One of the best ways you can help your child at home is to know what is expected of him throughout the school year. By October you should know what is expected academically of your child at school.  Your parent teacher conference is the time to communicate with your child’s teacher and ask questions about your child’s progress.

First, listen to what the teacher has to say.  Do not become defensive.  Teachers are your friends.  They genuinely care about and want to help your child learn.  Give your  teacher information about any changes happening at home such as a divorce or death in the family, a new baby, a major surgery, or anything that could affect your child’s learning. If you speak to other teachers who work with your child, ask questions pertaining to their particular subject area or their area of expertise. Take notes so that you can jog your memory later. Find out how you can help at home.  If you need more time to discuss your child, request another meeting or a follow-up phone call.  Conferences are usually about 20 minutes long, so don’t waste the time chit-chatting about the weather!

Ten Must-Ask Questions 

1.  Is my child performing with his best effort at school?

2.  Where are my child’s greatest strengths and weaknesses?

3.  How does my child fit in socially with others?

4.  How much of the time is my child staying on task?

5.  Is my child staying organized with his assignments and turning them in on time?

6.  How do you accommodate differences in learning if my child is an accelerated learner and is bored, or if he processes slowly and falls behind?

7.  Is there anything I need to know about the behavior of my child at school?

8.  What can I do at home to help my child and stay more involved in his academic progress?

9.  At what grade level is my child performing and where is that level compared to the rest of the class?

10. Do you recommend summer school, tutoring, or other programs to help my child outside of school?

Teachers are generally not allowed to suggest you use a tutor or any outside help such as seeking independent testing or counseling.  If you ask direct questions, they will usually tell you what they think.  Ask the right questions, and you will get the right answers.  At the end of the conference review any decisions you have made together, and if you feel it is necessary, make an appointment for another meeting. Together, you and the teacher will help your child succeed!

Good luck at your parent teacher conference!