Fall is the season for parent-teacher conferences — particularly in elementary school — and for many parents, these pivotal meetings can feel overwhelming sometimes. But they don’t have to be something to dread.
In fact, these discussions can provide parents with important insights about a child’s academic performance, learning style and overall readiness for life after high school graduation. And research shows that the more parents are involved in a child’s education, the more likely children are to earn better grades, graduate from high school, pursue postsecondary education and become higher earners in the workforce.
Whether your student is a kindergartner or a fifth grader looking ahead to middle school, a parent-teacher conference is an opportunity to listen, learn and share. It also pays to prepare a few thoughtful questions ahead of time to spark meaningful conversation with your child’s teacher.
To help you out, here are five questions to ask:
- What is my child like in the classroom? It’s important to know how your student navigates the school day. Ask about your child’s learning style, their level of independence and how they respond to the teacher’s rules and expectations.
- What would you say are my child’s academic strengths and weaknesses? Your child’s teacher is trained to assess a student’s academic skills both formally and informally — and they also spend a great deal of time with your child every day.
- What skills should my child be developing now for success in the future? It’s never too early to prepare your child for postsecondary success. Even in the early elementary grades, students can benefit from mastering soft skills such as collaboration, problem-solving and adaptability that will be critical in college or the workforce.
- How is my child doing socially? Every parent wants their child to make friends and develop healthy communication skills. Ask about who your child sits with at lunch or plays with on the playground and how they interact with classmates. A teacher’s observations of the social scene often can be helpful in explaining other behaviors.
- What are some things I can do at home to support what you’re doing in the classroom? Signal to your child’s teacher that you are open to forming a partnership and doing your part to set your student up for K-12 success and beyond. Ask about academic or behavioral areas where your child needs extra support and be open to forming a plan. The early years are also a great time to set ground rules for study habits, technology use and general accountability.
Bonus Tip? Always follow up.
Before leaving the meeting, find out your child’s teacher’s preferred mode of communication and make sure to continue the conversation. Throughout the school year, ask for updates and provide your own when you notice progress or setbacks. The key is to keep talking!
A 20-minute parent-teacher conference won’t fix everything, but it can serve as a starting point for building a positive relationship with the educators in your child’s life. Simply showing up and asking informed questions is an investment in your child’s long-term success.
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