5 Questions to Ask during Parent Teacher Conferences
Save this article for 5 questions to ask at your next parent/teacher conference that move beyond grades and start an open dialogue.
Parent/Teacher conferences will soon be here and it shouldn’t be a one-sided conversation. So often, parents forget that this is your time to ask questions and advocate for your child! The parent/teacher conference is the perfect time to build a stronger partnership with your child’s teacher.
5 Questions to Ask (that aren’t about grades)
How does my child interact with peers?
Social development is a big part of school. Children spend the majority of their days Monday - Friday in school with peers. Recess, free-time, and lunch are all great places for kids to practice social skills. Understanding how your child plays and interacts with others is important.
What skills are most challenging for my child?
Understanding what is hard or frustrating for your child at school gives you great insight into how to support them at home. It opens the door to have a collaborative conversation with the teacher focused on your child’s growth.
Where have you seen the biggest areas of growth with my child?
Sometimes, conferences can take a turn towards all the things your child can’t do, but every child has strengths and every child has made growth in something. Find out where your child shines!
If my child isn’t making progress, when will we meet again?
“Wait and see” isn’t a year-long strategy. It’s important to know when the teacher will follow up if there is a concern and for you to reach out to the teacher if the follow up doesn’t happen.
How can we work together to support my child this year?
Your child spends the majority of their time with their teacher, but you still know your child best. Having open lines of communication is the best way to stay on top on progress and build the bridge between home and school. (Be sure to share how you prefer to communicate and how you would like to work together, too!)
Walk into the conference with confidence.
Conferences should be a conversation, not a checklist. When you and your child’s teacher work together, your child benefits the most.
Need a thought partner before or after the conference? Book a free 20-minute consult today.
