How to Get the Most Out of a Parent-Teacher Conference
Parent-Teacher conference time makes many parents nervous, but it does not need to be this way. Conferences are not an attack on your child, nor is it a time to put all the flaws of your child on display. Instead, shift your perspective. The question you should be asking is, “How can the teacher and I come together for the benefit of my child?” Here’s how to view Parent-Teacher conferences in a positive light.
Teacher will be held accountable for teaching curriculum
When teachers start to explain all the standards that your child will learn in class for the coming year, it may be overwhelming! From the parent’s perspective, there are a lot of concepts that your child will learn. However, the flip side of this is that the teacher is actually outlining all the teaching standards by which he or she will be held accountable for teaching. This is the teacher’s commitment to you and your child.
Child’s work demonstrates opportunity for growth
Often times, the teacher will show a sample of what has been worked on in class in the first several weeks of school. This is a good opportunity to note what your child is capable of doing early in the school year and then using that as a measurement for growth. Adopt a “growth mindset” approach to your child’s progress. Make sure that your child is putting forth their best effort and has the expectation to continue improving. In as much as your child commits to doing their best, parents should commit to supporting their child through the learning process.
Parents should share their aspirations for their child
During the final phase of the parent-teacher conference, be sure to share what hopes and dreams you have for your child. Do you wish for your child to develop leadership skills? Would you like your child to be more responsible? Are you interested in having your child participate in community service projects (like cultivating a community garden, helping to sort recycling, etc.)? Aside from academic content, teachers are also more than willing to partner with you in the character development of your child. Communicating the dreams you have for your child will give the teacher insight into how you and the teacher can work together as a team for the benefit of your child.
The truth is that teachers are on your side and are equally invested in the success of your child. Think “win-win”!
Jaime
Copyright © 2017 by GenParenting
Discovering the joy of teaching while in high school, Jaime pursued her B.A. in English at Santa Clara University. She also received a teaching credential and a M.A. in Education Administration from Santa Clara University. Jaime taught English Language Arts at Rancho Middle School, motivating and inspiring young people to become effective communicators and contributors in their community. From being a Middle School English Language Arts/English Language Development teacher to becoming a stay-at home mom, Jaime is an education consultant who presents literacy workshops. Her workshops focus on a combination of her ten years of teaching expertise with tried-and-true experiences that she uses with her own children. Jaime is also a Teacher Consultant with the San Jose Area Writing Project. Jaime’s mission is to share effective reading and writing strategies with families to encourage literacy.
Shifting your perspective on how you and the teacher can collaborate to benefit your child is a wonderful idea. It’s amazing how simply changing your thinking can make a difference. I’ll have to keep that in mind when my daughter starts going to school.
We appreciate your positive feedback to our blog on parent-teacher conferencing. When one of my children was in high school, she had a very challenging relationship with one of her teachers. We both met with the teacher to strategize how she could partner more effectively with this teacher. The teacher and my child became partners in supporting her learning. Both were successful in this partnership venture! Warm regards, Mary Ann