11/08/2016
Thoughts to consider as you prepare for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Adapted from the CA PTA Parent Engagement Handbook.
Parent
–Teacher Conferences
One of the best ways for parents and teachers to establish and reinforce the home -school partnership is to get together for a parent-teacher conference. It offers a great opportunity to focus on how well a student is doing at school by sharing information, asking questions and devising ways to better support student learning.
•Before the Conference
Take time to talk to your child about what he or she likes to do at school. Let the teacher know more about your child’s strengths and challenges and what he or she likes to do with free time.
To ensure the success of the upcoming conference, prepare questions to ask the teacher about classroom activities, homework and your child’s academic and social progress.
•At the Conference Exchange views and information with the teacher about how well your child is doing in school and how he
or she can do even better. Ask the questions on your list to learn more about your child’s achievements, development and growth.
Find out more about what specific steps you can take to better support student learning at home is also an important part of your
conversation with the teacher.
•After the Conference
Share what you have learned at the conference with your child, emphasizing the positive feedback from his or her teacher. Put together an action plan with your child on how you will help with learning at home.
As follow up, arrange to talk again with your child’s teacher in the next few months to assess your child’s ongoing progress in school.
Making the most of parent-teacher conferences lets parents, teachers and schools work together more effectively as a team to help students achieve their potential.
When students know parents and teachers are partners in their learning network, they see that education is a high priority requiring commitment and effort to have a successful school year!
