Parent/Teacher Conferences present an excellent opportunity to get in tuned with your child. It is extremely important to have good communication with your teachers. It is imperative for both parties to know and share the same goals for your child. Teachers really do care about your child and want to see him or her prosper and enjoy school. It is a two way street though. You, the parent must take an active role in your child’s education. Talking to your the teacher and attending these conferences are a great way to stay connected and help the teacher help your child.

Here are some quick tips on making the most of the Parent / Teacher meeting:

1. Before the meeting, get yourself prepared. Make a list of concerns, questions or information worth sharing. Ask your child if he has anything he would like to share. If appropriate, have your child join you in the meeting. This can be appropriate at any grade level. A child feels secure knowing that his parents know what is going on with them at school. Whether your child shows it or not, they like it when mom and dad are in communication with the teachers.
2. Be on time. The first reason is of respect for the teacher. The second reason is that you want to get the most out of the meeting as possible. Conferences are usually on a 15 minute, possibly 30 minute block of time, so be organized.
3. During the session, don’t be shy. Ask the teacher questions like “What are my child’s best and worst subjects”, “Does my child get along well with others”, “What are my child strengths and what can we do about her weaknesses”, “How does he relate to the teacher”, “Is my child involved and engaged in the work and activities”.
4. This also a great time to address any issues that your child may have with the teacher. Let’s face it, not every child is going to like him or her. It is important to find out how your child feels about her teacher and vice - versa. Your child will enjoy school and learn more if there is a mutual fondness between them. More than likely the teacher will not address this, and often the child will not have the skills or feel secure about opening up his true feelings. This position lands on the parent.
5. If your child has a diagnosed learning disability, it is always the parent’s and student’s prerogative to meet with the principal, special education director and teacher to evaluation or revise your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
6. Always express appreciation for the teacher(s). Teachers are people too. Notice and appreciate their teaching style, their classroom, their time spent with you, and their commitment to your child.
7. On your drive home, think about your home environment. Could poor grades be due to too much chaos? Too many extra-curricular activities? Unlearned study habits? Are they getting enough sleep and eating well? Are they shutting down because they feel they can’t meet your expectations (which may be too high)? Are they getting enough support and encouragement?

A parent teacher conference should be a happy occurrence. I think we can all agree that education is extremely important. Use this forum, of many, to stay connected. A parent's relationship with her child's teachers has been proven to be a strong indicator of that student's success. Don't wait for the phone call or note sent home to meet with the teacher. It’s perfectly appropriate to schedule a status check meeting at any time. The relationship between school and parent will illustrate brightly through your child.