Get the most out of your parent-teacher conference

Being the Queen of parent teacher conferences, I can’t say that I would get much use out of this list myself, but for those of you who don’t have to meet with teachers quite as often as I do, this one’s for you

Prepare for the conference by:

• Asking children if they have concerns or questions for their teacher.

• Observing your children as they tackle homework or talk about school and friends.

• Writing down any questions or observations you want to share with the teacher. For the conference, most teachers will assemble a portfolio of your child’s work to show you. As you go through it with the teacher, ask:

• What strengths and weaknesses are shown in the work?

• What can we do at home to foster strengths and address weaknesses? Share these recommendations constructively with your child after the conference.

• What is my child’s learning style? Does he or she learn best when information is presented visually or orally, sequentially or as a whole picture? FamilyEducation.com also suggests asking how different learning styles are accommodated in the class.

• What are the teacher’s academic and behavioral expectations for the year? Are students aware of these standards and expectations?

• Are there online tools or reference books the teacher can recommend for homework help or test preparation?

via Indianapolis Star