Parent/Teacher Conferences
Between my years in the classroom and my own three kiddos, I have participated in more parent teacher conferences than I can count. When I was teaching, I loved having an opportunity to tell parents all about how their amazing children were progressing in the classroom. It was an honor to work with their child and I wanted to ensure our time together was as beneficial as possible.
Once our middle child was in kindergarten, I realized something wasn't clicking the way it had for our oldest. School was tougher for him. His teacher had wonderful, positive things to say about him - he is smart, he has a great sense of humor, he works well with others. I loved hearing these compliments of my amazing little man, but I was worried about his academics. We can celebrate our kiddos while at the same time, talk about their challenges.
Sometimes a learning difference or a social emotional challenge is the elephant in the room. We all know it's there, but it can be uncomfortable to address it head on. I'm here to say that head on is the only way to address things when it comes to your child's education. Acknowledging that something is hard for your child, does not in any way diminish all of the wonderful things about them. We are all a wonderful jumble of skills, talents, and challenges - our kiddos are the same. So what can you do to help prepare for conferences?
Once our middle child was in kindergarten, I realized something wasn't clicking the way it had for our oldest. School was tougher for him. His teacher had wonderful, positive things to say about him - he is smart, he has a great sense of humor, he works well with others. I loved hearing these compliments of my amazing little man, but I was worried about his academics. We can celebrate our kiddos while at the same time, talk about their challenges.
Sometimes a learning difference or a social emotional challenge is the elephant in the room. We all know it's there, but it can be uncomfortable to address it head on. I'm here to say that head on is the only way to address things when it comes to your child's education. Acknowledging that something is hard for your child, does not in any way diminish all of the wonderful things about them. We are all a wonderful jumble of skills, talents, and challenges - our kiddos are the same. So what can you do to help prepare for conferences?
Listen with an open mind. I have never met a teacher that was in it for the money or the glory. Your child's teacher is there because they want to make a difference. You are both members of the same team and you both want what is best for your child.
Be preprepared. If you receive your child's progress report beforehand, read it over. Note any questions you might have. This will allow the time you spend together to be much more productive.
Ask questions if you don't understand something. If your child's teacher mentions a term, you aren't familiar with ask what it means. If you don't understand the grading system, ask. Teachers are happy to clarify for you.
Remember an education is more than just academics. Your child is learning more than just reading and math, they are learning how to work with others, how to persevere when something is hard, and how to learn from failure. Your child's social and emotional learning is just as important as their academics, so make sure you talk about this as well.
Don't be afraid to follow up. If you don't have time to ask all of your questions during the conference, follow up with an email or phone call. Be respectful of the teacher's time and allow them to move on, but make sure you reach back out until you are comfortable that you fully understand your child's progress.
Be thankful. Teachers are amazing, giving individuals. Conference days are long ones for them. Let them know you appreicate their time with a kind word to two. It will go a long way in building a relationship between the two of you.
We are all busy and sometimes conferences feel like one more thing on a long to do list. Just know that your time spent with your child's teacher is valuable. It also feels pretty darn good to hear what is going well with your kiddo!
