Tips

Tips for Parent/Teacher Conferences

• In your eyes, what does my child seem to like best about school?
• Is my child getting along well with other students? Parents are very concerned about the socialization of their child.
• Is my child working up to his or her ability?
• How much time should homework take each night?
• What are my child’s strengths and/or weaknesses? For weaknesses, what can I do to help?
• What is my child’s learning style?
• What is one strong bit of advice you can offer me about the year in school (could be specific to the child – could be general)?
• Is my child meeting your expectations for learning and behavior?
• How has my child performed on daily class assignments, on tests, on homework assignments, during group work?
• How does my child compare to others in the essential skills?
• Does my child follow school rules or does he/she exhibit any behavior problems?
• If my child is struggling in any area, what has been tried to improve performance?
• Does my child pay attention in class?
• Are there any concerns about my child's health, adjustment issues, social issues?
• Is my child getting stressed and nervous about school work?
• Are there materials or resources that you would recommend?

• Records from the previous school year
• Standardized test scores
• Have your grade book, just in case
• Correspondence which has already occurred with the parent
• A non-judgmental activity or discipline log if the student is one who has been troublesome in class
• Photocopies of student-completed assignments – good and not-so-good
• A report card or a copy of the class grades
• A hand-out for parents to take home

• Homework policy
• Grading policy
• Expectations where appropriate, whether behavioral or academic
• Contact information
• Practice websites
• Homework posting website, if available
• Important skills for the year, and suggestions about how parents can help in the process.
• A list of standardized tests dates for the year

ABC's of Effective Parent Communication

For more helpful information on how to get ready for Open House, check out ABC's of Effective Parent Communication.