Getting Serious: The Parent Teacher Conference

School is in full swing. Pencils are sharpened and books are covered. You’ve paid for school supplies, picture day, yearbook, and T-shirts. You’ve been to Open House night and have an overview of the curriculum, homework assignments, and behavioral expectations. Now it’s time to get serious — the Parent-Teacher Conference.

One common element among successful students is involved parents. Children whose parents are conscientious about education tend to do better academically and have more positive social skills.

The parent teacher conference is not just a one-time event; it sets the pace for an ongoing relationship between parents and teachers for the entire school year. Consider the parent teacher conference as a team meeting. The goal is to plan effective strategies so your child will have a winning season.

A successful parent teacher conference should include the following:

1. Be positive: focus on your child’s strengths, talents, and successes. Let the teacher know that you love, cherish, and respect your child. You hold your child in high regard and expect others to do the same. Remember, you are entrusting your most precious possession to this teacher.

2. Keep it in perspective: children are not being immature, they are acting their age! Child development is a work-in-progress and their behavior should be viewed as one point on an ever-changing continuum. When there is a problem, understand that children do “grow out of it”. One of our jobs is to coach and support them, with compassion and consistency, as they encounter life’s ups and downs. It is critical that parents and teachers mutually support disapproval of misdeeds but not allow negativity to cast a shadow over the entire school year.

3. Focus on reality: neither exaggerate nor diminish your child’s academic progress, social skills, or behavioral reactions. Readily identify your youngster’s strengths and shortcomings. You know your child better than the teacher does, but the teacher is well educated in child growth and development. She has worked with hundreds of children. Remember, too, you are emotionally invested in your child but the teacher is able to be more objective. Respect the teacher as the professional child expert.