Parents and teachers rely on each other, and have different expectations of how each role of parent and teacher should be fulfilled. Sometimes parents and teachers need to meet to get on the same page about student behavior and academic success. These meetings should be focused on the specific needs of the student, whether behavioral or academic.
Student Behavior Requiring a Parent Teacher Conference
At the beginning of the school year, teachers have the task of bringing a group of 15-30 students together to learn. This requires much behavior management, and at times, student behavior can get out of hand. Many of the more serious behavior problems including fighting get sent through the office or school counselor, but it may help both the parent and teacher to meet as well.
When attending a parent teacher conference over student behavior, both the parent and teacher need to remain open and honest with each other. Neither one failed in her job, both simply need to both work together to come up with a solution for a troubled child. This solution may involve a behavior plan in school, or specific reward system at home to help the child to stay on task and behave appropriately at school.
Student Academic Needs Requiring a Parent Teacher Conference
During the course of the school year, it may become obvious to the teacher that a child is struggling academically. This is an excellent time to schedule a parent teacher conference. Be sure that you are prepared for the conference with samples of the student’s work, understanding of where the poor grades are coming from (homework, tests, class work, etc.), and be ready to share different interventions you have tried with the student.
If you as a parent find your child struggling in school, and the teacher has not contacted you for a conference, it is in your child’s best interests to set up a conference with his or her teacher. Remember that going in with the attitude of teamwork and showing a willingness to help out at home will prevent the teacher from becoming defensive, and will allow a more positive result for your child.
Typically schools will have set times of the year to hold parent teacher conferences, usually around report card time. It is very important to attend a conference, if offered one, so that you can find out more about what is going on at your child’s school, and find out what you can be doing to help your child succeed.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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