Parent Teacher Conference
Here are some suggestions you may want to share with your parents.
1. Give teachers plenty of notice when you want to meet with them. Don’t just drop by in the morning for a “quick question” or try to catch them during their 30 minute lunch period while you are at school. Set up a conference time to meet with them.
2. Arrive to the conference on time. Every minute counts in a teacher’s schedule. In the five minutes that a teacher is waiting for you she could have run off copies, answered emails, set out materials for the morning work.
3. Start the conference with something you appreciate about the teacher. Teachers need encouragement, too!
4. Have your questions and/or concerns written out in advance.
5. Stay on topic. It is easy for conversations to drift into other topics of interest. Be aware if you begin to recycle your concerns as well.
6. Listen with a readiness to learn about your child in the school setting. Strive to respond receptively rather than defensively or emotionally. Students may be different at school than they are at home. (group setting etc.)
7. Ask how you can support the teacher without rescuing, enabling or micromanaging your child. Let your child learn from mistakes and the valuable lessons they offer. Remember you are a team.
8. Share inside information if it will help the teacher understand your child better, but be aware of “over sharing”. If you are uncomfortable telling the teacher maybe contact the school counselor.
9. Get the whole story. Parents can’t always rely on what the child is telling them about a situation (it is based only on the child’s perspective). Ask the teacher for her perspective before passing judgement or reacting.
10. Although it is helpful to know about the teacher’s traits in advance, base your opinion on your own child’s experiences.
11. If you are using email or texting as a way to communication with your child's teacher, please remember the teacher is teaching. Therefore, please allow time for the teacher to gather necessary information to reply.
Check out this link for more information
HARVARD FAMILY RESEARCH PROJECT
1. Give teachers plenty of notice when you want to meet with them. Don’t just drop by in the morning for a “quick question” or try to catch them during their 30 minute lunch period while you are at school. Set up a conference time to meet with them.
2. Arrive to the conference on time. Every minute counts in a teacher’s schedule. In the five minutes that a teacher is waiting for you she could have run off copies, answered emails, set out materials for the morning work.
3. Start the conference with something you appreciate about the teacher. Teachers need encouragement, too!
4. Have your questions and/or concerns written out in advance.
5. Stay on topic. It is easy for conversations to drift into other topics of interest. Be aware if you begin to recycle your concerns as well.
6. Listen with a readiness to learn about your child in the school setting. Strive to respond receptively rather than defensively or emotionally. Students may be different at school than they are at home. (group setting etc.)
7. Ask how you can support the teacher without rescuing, enabling or micromanaging your child. Let your child learn from mistakes and the valuable lessons they offer. Remember you are a team.
8. Share inside information if it will help the teacher understand your child better, but be aware of “over sharing”. If you are uncomfortable telling the teacher maybe contact the school counselor.
9. Get the whole story. Parents can’t always rely on what the child is telling them about a situation (it is based only on the child’s perspective). Ask the teacher for her perspective before passing judgement or reacting.
10. Although it is helpful to know about the teacher’s traits in advance, base your opinion on your own child’s experiences.
11. If you are using email or texting as a way to communication with your child's teacher, please remember the teacher is teaching. Therefore, please allow time for the teacher to gather necessary information to reply.
Check out this link for more information
HARVARD FAMILY RESEARCH PROJECT