Steve Frey
The economy, climate change, the November elections—with so many critical issues on our minds these days, who has time to think about parent-teacher conference day?
After all, that 20 or 25-minute conference isn’t going to change the world, is it?
Well, it just might, at least for your child.
How many times will you meet your child’s teacher this year?
If you are like many parents, this conference may be your only extensive interaction with the teacher throughout the year.
Teachers know how vital these meetings are (they come up next week in Radford).
They are busy organizing schedules, putting together data, and spending hours after grading papers and planning lessons to streamline their discussion points.
Teachers also know that developing a great working partnership with parents is one of the best ways to ensure student success. They realize that the 20-25 minutes will fly by, so you can rest assured that they will come to the conference prepared!
The teacher needs you. In a study published a few years ago, it was found that “increased parent involvement, defined as the teacher’s perception of the positive attitude parents have toward their child’s education, teacher, and school was significantly related to increased academic performance.”
So what can you do to show the teacher that you care about your child’s success and that you want to develop the kind of working relationship that will make a difference? By coming prepared and open-minded.
The teacher will address items like your child’s strengths and weaknesses, behavior, homework, grades and other topics, but here are a few specific questions you might take along with you to get an even better insight into your child’s progress, especially at the elementary level.
First, what is the specific reading level for your child? Reading is a gateway skill to success in all other subject areas.
Teachers are continually collecting data on your child’s progress, and they will be able to give you a grade equivalency level.
STAR, AIMSweb, Running Records, DRAs—there are many different ways school systems measure reading growth, but sometimes a simple grade level equivalency is the best comparison for you to understand as parents.
Your child may be in fourth grade but reading on a second or sixth-grade level. How are your child’s needs being met in the classroom, and what can you do to support your child at home? (Hint: One-Way is to read 15 minutes each day with your child!)
Next, ask the teacher how she meets your child’s individual needs. Whether you think your child is gifted or needs academic support, the teacher is finding ways to differentiate instruction.
Let’s say that your child is on the advanced side of the academic range in the class in some area. The teacher can individualize writing expectations; use different reading groups; math questioning and assignments can be adjusted to challenge; science and social studies assignments may be modified. The teacher will share how this is taking place as needed in the classroom.
How is your child interacting socially with other students? This goes beyond just “behaving well.”
You’ll want to make sure that your child is making friends, working well with others, developing empathy and understanding for the needs of others, developing teamwork skills, etc.
Yes, it is important to know that he is behaving, but the skills your child needs go beyond keeping his hands and feet to himself and not disturbing class.
Is your child engaged in learning? Are they focused? Are they concentrating on the assignment at hand and completing it appropriately? If not, how is the teacher reengaging the child?
What is the best way to communicate with the teacher when needed? Teachers often have different communication systems/technology that they use. Find out what is best and how you can set up a system of open communication.
Finally, what goals does the teacher have for your child’s achievement? What can you do to help your child and support the teacher?
Okay, you showed up (many parents just don’t show up); you came on time (the teacher is meeting parents one after another throughout the day, so adhering to the schedule is essential); you came prepared with constructive questions, and you and the teacher have a plan for the future. Now what?
The most important step comes next: follow-through. Talk with your child about his goals. Check-in regularly with them to see how they’re progressing.
Be available to help, but don’t do his homework for him. Let him know that you and the teacher had a great conference and that you will be working together with her.
Emphasize that you, the teacher and your child make a great team. Having your child understand that you support the teacher AND him is critical.
Sure, you may not solve all of the world’s problems at that parent-teacher conference, but you will help your child be more successful in school. He will know that he can and will succeed.
Your child and the teacher need you, parents, and you can use that conference to make a difference. Indeed, they just may be the most important 20 minutes or so of your year!
Steve Frey is a writer and CEO of Ascendant Educational Services based in Radford.
