Listen with an open mind Your child might describe their teacher quite differently from the person you find yourself in front of. How the teacher describes your child, and what happens in the classroom may also not always match what you see at home. Children often behave differently around their peers and teachers than they do with their parents. Rather than seeing these differences as conflicting accounts, use them to build a fuller picture of your child’s experience at school. Raise important concerns early Conference slots go by fast. If there’s something specific you want to talk about, mention it early. This gives you and the teacher enough time to discuss it rather than reaching the issue at the end of the meeting.
Gather useful information Relevant documents can help the teacher understand your child’s circumstances and learning needs. Consider bringing: • Notes and updates from any earlier conversations with the teacher, head teacher or mentor • Reports or records from a previous school, if your child has moved recently • Any specialist reports or recommendations, such as from an educational psychologist or occupational therapist, etc. Bring copies of anything the teacher may need to keep for future reference. Write your questions down It’s easy to forget what you meant to ask once you’re sitting across from the teacher, so jot your questions down beforehand, in order of priority in case you can’t get through them all. Useful questions include:
• Is my child keeping up with what’s expected of them, both in learning and behaviour? • What do you see as their biggest strengths right now? • Are there any areas where they need additional support, and that we can support from home? • How do they participate and interact with other students in class? • Is there anything happening in class that we should know about at home? Choose the questions most relevant to your child so there’s enough time to discuss the answers properly. DURING THE PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE: MAKE THE TIME COUNT Once you’re in the meeting, a few simple habits can help you use the time well.
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