Parent-Teacher Conferences! For some families there will be skipping and jumping to the teacher’s door (ok- maybe not literally) because all reports will be glowing…
“Johnny is a motivated student, who finishes his work in a timely manner. He loves to work in groups, and I see great leadership potential.”
Then there are those families who arrive to the conference with reluctant steps and arms of lead as they reach for the doorknob to their child’s classroom. They are anxious about what the teacher will say…
“Samantha is a precious child. I wanted to share with you some observations I have made. She is having difficulty staying focused on her assignments…she doesn’t want to play or interact with others during recess…I think she would benefit from extra reading practice.”
Why am I sharing these experiences with you today? Well, tomorrow I will be the teacher on the other side of that door with sweaty palms and rapid heartbeat anticipating those comments and questions that every parent will bring. I constantly ask myself–Will I answer those questions clearly? Do they really trust my experience or value my opinion? Will I have answers that will comfort them and their child? You would think after 15 years of teaching that this would be a piece of cake…nope!
Speaking only from personal experience, I thought it might be helpful to share some pre-conference tips:
- Write a list of comments and questions that you want to share with your child’s teacher.
- Bring any assignments, quizzes, or tests that were difficult for your child.
- Arrive on time. Most conferences are scheduled on one day and if you are not punctual it disrupts the entire schedule.
- Turn your cell phone to silence or vibrate. Your child comes first.
- If you should need more time to speak with the teacher, schedule a follow-up conference.
I understand that not all teachers are approachable or friendly… (sad, but true). If this is your situation…I am so sorry. So this is what I want you to do– Go in , hold your head high and enter that classroom poised and prepared to promote your child’s strengths and seek answers for their weaknesses. Remember, you are your child’s biggest fan and their first teacher.
If you should have any comments or general questions about conferencing strategies please share with us here. We can all benefit from your experiences.
