How to Prepare for a Parent-Teacher Conference
As a parent, you know that a quality education plays a major role in determining your child’s chances for success later in life. You also know that although teachers are largely responsible for providing that education, parents also need to participate in the educational process if they want their children to truly reach their learning potential.
Parent-teacher conferences are an important part of the educational process, so it is vital for parents to know how to prepare for those conferences to ensure that they are as productive as possible.
The fact is that parents need to be more than passive participants at these meetings. While listening is important, it is equally important to ask questions and offer insights that can assist educators in identifying areas of concern. The key is to accomplish those goals in the short time available during any scheduled conference. These tips can help you to properly prepare for a productive meeting.
Communicate with Your Child
One of the most important things that you can do to prepare for any conference is to stay informed throughout the school year. Communicate with your child and pay attention to his concerns. Review homework, test results, and grades so that you stay abreast of your child’s progress. If teachers regularly engage with you via email, be sure to maintain an open dialogue with them as well.
Plan Ahead
Take the time to create a list of any questions you may have for your child’s teachers. If possible, email those questions to the teacher in advance, so that they can be better prepared for the meeting and ensure that you’re all focused on the same goals.
Be Punctual
Be on time for your meeting. Remember, teachers usually have multiple conferences scheduled back-to-back, so a late parent can disrupt that schedule.
Work with Educators to Develop an Action Plan
Communicate your insights, feedback, and goals to your child’s teacher. Work together to create an action plan that can best fulfill your child’s learning needs and promote their progress in school.
Be Respectful
Commit yourself to a productive, respectful conference. Be prepared to praise teachers’ efforts. Chances are that your child has had at least a few positive comments about his or her teachers. Be sure to make note of them in your meeting. If you have concerns, make sure to state them calmly and attempt to resolve the issue avoiding a confrontational tone. No one benefits when parents become overly combative or outright hostile at a parent-teacher conference.
Plan to Stay Engaged
Finally, prepare to continue the dialogue long after the conference has ended. Parent-teacher conferences are designed to share progress reports, highlight mutual goals, and outline strategies to improve educational outcomes. Your ongoing engagement is necessary for ensuring that those strategies achieve your goals, so be sure to follow up on a regular basis.
The parent-teacher conference can be an essential component of any educational strategy, but its benefits can only be fully realized when parents are completely invested in the process. With proper preparation, you can help to ensure that these conferences are productive tools for improving your child’s educational experience.