7 Ways to Prepare for a Parent-Teacher Conference
How to handle a parent-teacher conference with confidence
Parent-teacher conferences are great until they’re focused on your child’s struggles and weaknesses.Many times, you already know that your kiddo is struggling at school. But attending meetings that reflect this reality and hardly provide solutions can be disturbing.How can you learn to achieve a successful parent-teacher conference? By the way, I recently created The Parent Lab, a resourceful platform, to help a small group of parents who want to help their struggling kids. Would you like to learn, interact, and laugh with other parents of struggling students?Visit The Parent Lab to sign up and get all the information you need.
The Reality about Parent-Teacher Conferences
These conferences are often filled with people who brag about students who are doing great. But they also talk about struggling kids.Now, if your child is struggling, these meetings aren’t fun. I know because I’ve been there. It’s uncomfortable because you have people who are prepared to spell out your child’s weaknesses. But you can get through it. The steps in this blog will help you raise your confidence a little bit and calm your nerves.
Be Prepared
To avoid getting any surprises during the conference, make notes of all your correspondences with your child’s teacher(s). Specify details such as when, how many times, how, “did you get feedback?” and so on. A little CYA would allow you prove that you’ve been in touch and maybe the teacher just didn’t remember to respond. Mention these details and politely address the fact that the teacher didn’t respond even though your child is struggling.
Have Access to Your Child’s Online Grades and Portals
It’s important that you know nearly everything that’s happening in school, including your child’s grade. You should get access and check regularly. If you don’t have access, talk to the right tech people.Go on social media. Ensure that you receive emails regularly and in the right place. Also, instead of staying in your space and not asking for help with these tips, make the move to gather the information that matters to you and your child.Take ownership for the information that’s being sent to you. If you’re in Orlando and you don’t have access yet, know that that’s not on you. It’s on the part of the district.But otherwise, take the steps you need to. You don’t want to be in that situation where you say you didn’t get certain information but the teacher or counselor says they sent those messages via various channels.Talk about all the platforms which the school uses. Be sure that you’re fully signed up on all channels of communication.
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How to Handle Missing Assignments
Doing this allows you to find out if you can turn things around. Ask the teacher(s) involved if they can make it up.
Devise a schedule around them and find out what time would be sufficient to turn in all missing assignments and tasks.
What Questions to Ask at a Parent Teacher Conference
Go into the parent-teacher conference with a list of questions. Doing this allows you to remember everything you want to address.
For example, you can ask questions about the subjects your child is doing great at. Take note of areas where your child is succeeding and ask if the efforts in those subjects can be duplicated.
Find out how you can communicate with the teacher. Ask if you can get tutoring help at the school. Likewise, talk about transportation options. Ask about the strategies that previous struggling students have used to improve on their weaknesses.
Also, find out if there’s something you can do to help from home. Home and school should support each other, yes. You want to find out if there’s a way you can help your child perform better. What you really need is a plan which will drive change.
What Teachers will be Present at a Parent Teacher Conference
It’s important to have the teachers of the subjects where your child is struggling present at the meeting. You don’t necessarily have to have all the teachers present.
Teachers of subjects where your child is excelling may not need to be present and can possible submit notes. However, it can be a confidence boost to know there is a teacher in your child’s corner. But if your child is struggling with English, the English teacher needs to be at the meeting. The classes your child struggles in are the most important to meet with.
Make it a Team Effort
Enter the conference in a positive mindset
Don’t go into these parent-teacher conferences prepared to disagree. Be willing to work as a team member with your child’s teacher to come up with solutions to help your child.
Ask for a plan of action. Take notes. And be clear on everything. Book a next meeting to find out what your progress looks like.
Remember the Flies and Vinegar Story
At the end of the parent-teacher conference, reach out to the teacher(s) to thank them for supporting your child and giving their best. Reassure them that you’ll be working with them to turn the ship around.
Finally, if you want to know whether your child should be at the meeting, ask the school counselor or teacher. You know your child best. In fact, many kids would shut off in such meetings.It’s okay to get all the information you need from your child before the meeting. You don’t want to have surprises at the meeting. In short, let your child be part of the information gathering stage.
In Closing
Parent-teacher conferences can be difficult but you can maximize these strategies to help you achieve faster results. Don’t forget to join the Parent Lab to find out more ways to help your struggling child.
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Marni Pasch | Academic Coach | Host of the Podcast School Counselor Gone Rogue | Team Pasch Academic Coaching
As a trained school counselor turned academic coach, I work with students in grades 6th and higher, who struggle with academic confidence and motivation. Together we create concrete goals, tackle procrastination and learn creative study techniques. My mission is to empower teenagers to thrive in school on their terms. Want to work together? Contact me for individual or group coaching so teens can achieve success in life, school, career, and their social endeavors. I provided in person academic coaching in Orlando, FL, but work with students across the country through Zoom!