We know that in a traditional school setting, some parents are often intimidated to attend Parent Teacher Conferences. As a parent, you yourself might have felt anxious to hear how your child was performing and progressing, feeling the pressure to take on yet another parenting task, and unsure if you were asking the appropriate questions.
Let me tell you, from a teacher’s perspective, that none of those judgments or expectations are running through the teacher’s mind. The teacher is simply glad that you have shown up to participate in this beneficial conversation about your child’s education. The teacher is excited to have the opportunity to devote a little more time to face-to-face interaction with you to discuss one of their very favorite topics- one of their students, your child!
Here at Dailies, we ensure that you are comfortable in our Parent Teacher Conferences regardless of where you are coming from. That being said, we know some parents prefer preparation, so I’m offering up some questions that I encourage you to ask during a conference in order to get a comprehensive understanding of your child’s behaviors and progress at school- even if that is a virtual at-home school setting. While the teacher will guide the discussion, it never hurts for the parent to come prepared as well!
Keep in mind, this list is by no means a requirement or expectation. It is not the one and only “right” way to participate in a conference. It is simply a guide to give you some ideas of questions you might find beneficial to ask, in addition to the conversational structure that the teacher is already providing.
General Questions
- What can I do to help support my child at home?
- Is there anything you think I should know regarding my child overall?
- How is my child doing with virtual learning?
Questions on Academics
- How is my child progressing?
- What is the evidence for my child’s progress?
- What are my child’s academic strengths?
- What are academic skills for my child to continue to work on?
- What content areas or subjects does my child seem most interested in?
- What is my child’s current reading level (if applicable)?
Questions on Social/Emotional
- How is my child doing socially?
- Are there any behaviors we can reinforce at home?
- How does my child respond to expectations and procedures?
- What are my child’s interests in the educational setting?
- What have you found works best to motivate my child when learning?
- How is my child’s behavior when interacting with peers and also adults?
As we often say at Dailies, learning with us is a triangle. We know that ALL sides of the educational relationship- educators, families, and the technology to make it all possible, are just as important. We know that YOU, as a parent, are just as vital and important as the teachers and students themselves. Therefore, we love to empower you, prepare you, and build up your own educational confidence.
What would you like your child’s teacher to ask YOU in a parent teacher conference? We’d love to hear it!
