What to Discuss at a Parent-Teacher Conference
Each year, perhaps more than once, parents are invited to school for a parent-teacher conference to assess your child’s school year and progress thus far. Surely the teacher will have a list of items to discuss, but it’s always smart to arrive prepared with some questions of your own, in case anything’s left uncovered. After all, the teacher will be meeting with lots of parents and may overlook something you wanted to talk about. Here are some questions that will help you better determine how you’re child’s managing in school to date.
How’s My Child’s Behavior in the Classroom?
Kids are in school to learn, but their classroom behavior is just as important. Find out if your child is polite and patient rather than rude and disruptive. See if he’s one to participate or shy away from speaking in class. Is he attentive and absorbing the information, or is his head in the clouds? Classroom behavior is more than just a personality trait. It can show what your child’s interested in and what he may find dull. Or maybe he’s having attention issues that need to be addressed. While every kid has an “off” day, learning what his general demeanor is in class can be indicative of the type of student he is and how he treats others, as well as his understanding of respect and discipline in and out of the classroom.
How’s He Doing Socially?
Along with doing well academically, kids need to thrive socially too. Ask the teacher if your child is popular with his peers, only has a friend or two, or keeps to himself. Is he comfortable around others and willing to participate in group projects and games on the playground? What about his interaction with adults? All of these social cues are a way to help understand what makes your child comfortable and his level of self-confidence. With the information from his teacher, you can work on any social pitfalls before they become a habit or worse, a problem.
What Does He Excel In?
We all want our kids to do well no matter what they try, but that’s not always realistic. Find out where your child shines the brightest. Perhaps he’s great at math, reading, or science. Or maybe he’s more of the artistic or musical type. All areas of schooling are important, so excelling in one field is no better or worse than another. When you learn what motivates your child and what he’s got a knack for, you can help cultivate this passion in more studies in that area or extra-curricular activities. Plus, you can find out the areas in which he’s not as strong in and work harder in helping him study for those subjects.
Tell Me a Little Bit About Yourself…
Yes, the conference is supposed to be geared towards the kids, but don’t you want to know something about his teacher? Find out where she went to school, what her hobbies are, and what made her want to become a teacher. Ask about her passions and family (if she’s open to discussing personal matters.) More than likely, she’ll be happy that you’ve taken an interest and will be willing to let you in on a little information about herself. And when you need to speak with her again, she’ll remember you as warm and caring – not only for your child, but for her as well.
Any parent-teacher conference tips you’d like to share with the AMC community?
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By: Melissa A. Kay
