Just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow or Friday due to Parent Teacher Conferences. Extended Care is available at Uplands Elementary.
The following is an excerpt from an article that I thought had some great ideas for parents as they head into conferences with our teachers. Hopefully it is helpful for you! We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress and goals for the school year.
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How to Make the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences
Tips for maximizing the time you have during parent-teacher conferences, plus the ten questions you should ask your child’s teacher
Really there’s only one question you need to ask your child’s teacher.
“How can I best help YOU help MY child?”
Parent-Teacher conferences usually show up on a parent’s agenda twice per school year – possibly the most important school-parent responsibility.
Attend your parent-teacher conferences with a game plan, but above all, remember it’s a team sport. You and your student are definitely the players, and the teacher is the coach. Listen actively, and let him or her guide you. In the end, your willingness to be a team player will go a long way to fostering a great learning experience for everyone involved!
10 Questions to Get Your Parent-Teacher Game On:
- What would you say are my child’s strengths?
- What are the biggest opportunities for improvement?
- How is my child getting along socially with other children?
- What does my child’s class conduct tell you about how (s)he learns best?
- What examples can you show me of my child’s work?
- Are my child’s assignments completed on time and at an appropriate performance level?
- How can I track my child’s performance throughout the year?
- Do you have suggestions for things we can do at home to supplement classroom learning? (recommend books, educational games, etc.)
- How can I help you in the classroom? (Being a classroom volunteer, even once a month, gives the teacher more time to focus on individual needs.)
- What am I not asking or noticing that I should be?
Above all, the parent-teacher conference is the start (or continuation) of a conversation. Use this time to recognize strengths, voice concerns and actively listen to issues, then schedule follow-up meetings as needed to work on detailed actions. Game ON!
