November April

PREPARING FOR YOU CHILD'S CONFERENCE

  • Ask your child about his or her teachers and classes.  Find out what he or she likes or doesn’t like and why. 
  • Prior to the conference, write down any questions you might have pertaining to your child’s academics or behaviors.
  • Have some ideas of your own that can help in areas where you have concerns about your child’s performance.
  • During the conference, take notes on information shared and what you can do to help your child succeed in school.
  • Allow enough time before or after your scheduled conference to enjoy hallway displays and work samples.

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

Parents are a child’s first teacher, but when the child begins school a partnership is born, and parents and teachers begin the shared responsibility of guiding the child’s development.  Recognizing that this relationship is one which needs careful cultivation in order to develop fully, school personnel are working to build and enhance a working partnership.

Our main goal in building a more effective partnership between parents and teachers is to improve communication.  This is a matter of emphasis for both teachers and parents.  Teachers need to hear what parents are saying and parents need to be willing to share information and to participate in the communication process.  Open, honest, factual communication is the beginning of a successful working relationship. 

While giving and receiving information, parents and teachers should focus on the positive, while pinpointing one or two specific areas that that would strengthen the student’s abilities.   Focusing on a child’s strengths while supporting their weaknesses, can produce positive results.

An important part of the parent-teacher conference is the process of planning and setting goals.  You will discuss realistic expectations, achievable short-term goals, and frequent celebrations of success. In this partnership, both teacher and parent have a vested interest in the child, and the conference is a way to share these hopes and dreams for the student.