Tips For Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences

Education is a shared responsibility. To help students learn the skills, habits and attitudes needed for lifelong success, teachers need your assistance and input. Working together, you and your child’s educator can ensure your child reaches his full potential this school year. As educators, we know that this communication is vital to seeing this success flourish this school year. This time also gives you the opportunity to develop a relationship with your child's teacher in a positive environment and in an open forum early in the year to address any concerns you may have now. It is better to air them early in the year than to wait until there is an issue later.


To celebrate National Education Association’s (NEA) American Education Week a little early (November 15-19, 2010), the educational experts at your Sylvan Learning are proud to provide resources that assist educators and parents in working together to complement the learning process.

Getting Ready:
• Ask your child if there are topics he or she would like discussed with the teacher.
• Write notes to yourself about your child’s personality, learning difficulties and study habits – aspects that you feel the teacher should know. Take these notes with you to the meeting.

Helpful Questions To Ask At The Meeting:
• What is your classroom homework policy? Is homework graded?
• What are the skills that you expect my child to master this year?
• How do you accommodate for learning styles?
• How can I stay involved in my child’s learning?

During The Conference:
• Be respectful of the teacher’s time and arrive promptly. Also be respectful of other parents. Often schools will have an open door conference night where you simply show up at the time most convenient for you and sign in. Other parents are waiting to have an equal amount of time with the teacher and they want to share equally about their child. If the teacher has a timer in the room, please do not be offended, set up another day and time that is mutually convenient to discuss major concerns.
• Discuss your notes concerning your child’s learning habits.
• Ask your most important questions first – in case time runs out.
• Ask the teacher for specific suggestions on ways to help your child reach his potential. This is the most important part of the meeting.
• Take notes so you can discuss the meeting with your child.
• End the meeting by reiterating the actions that will be taken by the teacher or you.
• If needed, schedule a time to meet again.

After the Conference:
• Begin your action plan and work with your child to make learning fun.
• Stay in contact with the teacher and continue to discuss your child’s progress.

Sylvan Learning would like to ensure EVERY parent in North America understands the importance of supplementing her child’s learning at home
and attending parent/teacher conferences. By working with local families to develop plans to efficiently prepare for educator meetings, parents and educators will see higher grades, fewer homework headaches and more confident students as a result.

Help your child discover a lifelong love of learning. Visit the “Resources for Parents” area on www.SylvanLearning.com or www.Nea.org/parents/parent-guides.html for free family activities.