Parent/teacher conferences are a great opportunity for parents to get to know their child’s teacher; learn more about what really goes on in the classroom; and share information about their child with the teacher.
To ensure you get the most out of the conference, here are a few tips to help you prepare.
- No one knows your child better than you so take a moment to share information about your child that you would like their teacher to know. If there are life events your child is experiencing at home, such as a new baby, recent move or death in the family, these are important situations for your child’s teacher to be aware of.
- Make a list of a few questions. Questions can focus on behavior, socialization or activities you can do at home to help your child continue to learn and develop. All questions are good questions, but here are a few examples:
- How is my child adjusting to the new child care or school routine?
- What is my child’s favorite part of the day?
- What will children be learning in the program?
- Does my child require any extra help during the day?
- How is my child behaving in class and interacting with the other children?
- Be open-minded about feedback. Every parent wants to hear only good things about their child. However, no child is perfect and it can be easy to get defensive if your child’s teacher has concerns or items that your child can work on. Whether it is a behavior issue or a developmental delay, listen to what the teacher has to say and work together to create a plan of action.
- Bring a notepad and pen so you can take notes of action items for follow up.
After the conference, talk to your child about what their teacher said and pass on praise. They will likely be thrilled that you visited their classroom!