Now that the school year is in full swing it’s time to sit down with your child’s teacher.
Tucson's largest school district, TUSD, and Vail will both be holding parent-teacher conferences starting next week. Other local districts have time set aside in October.
If the idea of 20 minutes of one-on-one time with your child's teacher makes you nervous, don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
First things first
Check in with your child to see how they are feeling about their relationship with their teacher, their peers and how they feel about the level of work that is expected of them — what do they enjoy and what are they struggling with?
Schedule a time to meet with your child’s teacher. If your work schedule doesn’t allow you to make it during the designated time, let the teacher know and ask about alternate times.
Based on your concerns and those of your child, make a list of questions to ask during the conference. They could be questions like:
• Is my child performing at grade level? Is there any data I can see that supports that?
• Is my child meeting school expectations?
• How is my child doing socially?
• What are my child’s strengths?
• How could my child improve?
• What can I do at home to help my child learn?
• If you feel your child needs extra support in a particular area, find out what resources are available at school and in the community.
At the conference
Parent-teacher conferences work best when the teacher and parents are both talking and listening, and when both parties are focused on working together as a team.
“As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher,” the Harvard Family Research Project says. “You and your child’s school have something in common: you both want your child to learn and do well.
“When parents and teachers talk to each other, each person can share important information about your child’s talents and needs. Each person can also learn something new about how to help your child.”
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Teachers sometimes slip into "eduspeak" — using unfamiliar acronyms and terms. It’s important to ask for clarification or more information while you have the chance.
• Don’t be afraid to share. If there are things happening at home that may impact your child’s ability to learn and focus, share that with the teacher. Doing so will help them better understand and work with your child.
Now what?
Your 20 minutes are winding down, but that doesn’t mean the conversation is over, it’s really just the beginning.
Find out how you can contact the teacher throughout the school year and let them know how they can best reach you. If needed, schedule a time to follow up either in person, by phone or over email about specific concerns.
Don’t forget to debrief with your child, especially if he or she was not present for the meeting. Share what you learned and what you will be doing at home to help them.
