![]() Part of your preparations should also include a discussion with your child about how he or she feels they are doing. This video offers tips on how to prepare for a parent-teacher conference. Just because your child is doing well academically doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot you can still discuss. Conversely, being prepared when your child is performing well will allow you to utilize your appointment time to inquire about extended learning opportunities, such as clubs or organizations, or other non-grade issues, such as behavior or relationships with other students. It also allows you to be more informed ahead of time so you can ask your child’s teacher-specific questions about how to most effectively help your child boost his or her achievement. On the one hand, if your child is struggling, you’ll need to be familiar with why this is so, and examining his or her work can give you some insight into those reasons. It’s important to be prepared whether your child is doing well or poorly. What can I do to help my child improve academically?.What can my child do to improve academically?.What are my child’s strengths? Weaknesses?.Gathering as much information as you can ahead of time allows you to formulate questions to ask your child’s teacher and be ready to dive into the discussion once your appointment time arrives. Begin by reviewing your child’s grades beforehand, including their report card, any progress reports, work your child has brought home, and any comments your child’s teacher has made on his or her homework. Come to the conference prepared to get the most out of your appointment. Parent-teacher conferences are often set up such that parents have precious little time with each teacher, in many cases 10-15 minutes at the absolute most. However, there are practical steps you can take before, during, and after parent-teacher conferences to ensure you have all the information you need to support your child’s learning. ![]() It can be difficult to cover all the questions you have in a short period of time, and you may even leave the conference feeling like you weren’t able to accomplish much. How are my child's self-help skills (washing hands, eating and cleaning up lunch, brushing teeth, preparing nap mat, etc.Parent-teacher conferences can be a bit unnerving for parents regardless of how many times they’ve attended.How is my child progressing cognitively (counting, colors, weather, alphabet, etc.)?. ![]() ![]() When needed, how is discipline handled? What can I do at home to correct problem behavior?.How does my preschooler respond to classroom rules and procedures? Does he need a lot of redirection and reminders?.Does my child engage in play appropriately for his age? What is his favorite play activity?.How is my child doing emotionally? Is he reacting appropriately to various situations (happy, sad, frustrated, empathetic, etc.)?.How is my toddler or preschooler doing socially? Is he engaging with his peers appropriately for his age? How well does he share? Who are his friends?.Questions to Ask During a Preschool Parent-Teacher Conference I have so many more questions that have been weighing on my mind. ![]() I also realized, encouraged by our recent webinar Establishing Parent-Teacher Partnerships, that I'm overdue for a parent-teacher meeting. Knowing that it's an issue at home makes it easier for me to identify, correct and work on. I've been so worried that Owen's 3-year-old behavior was a new phase, and persistent across his school and home life. He can get frustrated sometimes but not angry." Wow! Phew! In fact, I don't think I've ever seen Owen mad like that. Throwing toys, hitting, yelling, etc." And to my surprise."Not at all. After a casual exchange about a recent space project that Owen loved, I asked the question, "Have you been noticing any behavioral issues with Owen? He's been very angry at home. I shared what's been weighing heavily on my mind - a recent resurgence of angry and toddler-like behavior happening at home that I feared may also be playing out in the preschool classroom. Typically, I save important "Owen" conversations for one-on-one parent-teacher meetings but I happened to have a chance to chat solo with his preschool teachers that night. Curriculum Night at Bright Horizons gives parents the chance to hear from the center director, learn about the curriculum and activities coming up this year, and chat and ask questions with the teachers. That rang true last week at Curriculum Night at my son's preschool. The one truth I've learned about parenting is to expect the unexpected. ![]()
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