Parent - Teacher Meetings As easy as A-B-C

1. Parent - Teacher MeetingsAs easy as A-B-C

2. Parent-Teacher Meetings Are: • Essential building blocks for home to school communication. • A time for listening, sharing, and working together. • An opportunity for teachers to explain your child’s progress, grades, and the grade-level standards. • Successful when parents and teachers have two-way conversations about how to help your child succeed.

3. Before the Meeting • Write notes to share with the teacher about: • Things in your child’s life you feel are important for the teacher to know (birth of a baby, loss of someone close, etc.). • Questions about your child’s progress • Your concerns about the school’s programs or activities.

4. Before the Meeting • If other family members can’t attend the meeting with you, ask for their concerns and questions. • 3. Ask your child questions, such as: • a. What do you like about school? • b. What do you dislike about school? • c. Is there anything to ask or tell the teacher?

5. During the Meeting • Arrive on time. Be aware that the teacher may be behind schedule. • Say something nice about the teacher or the classroom. • Tell the teacher you have certain things you would like to talk about. • Begin with your most important questions.

6. Ask questions about what your child is learning. • Is my child at grade level with his/her reading, writing, and math? • May I see some of my child’s work? • What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses in class? • What can I do at home to support what my child is learning in school? • What expectations do you have for children in your class? • If you run out of time but have more to talk about, ask for another meeting at a later date.

7. Test Results • Your child’s classroom teacher has access to assessment data on your child. • You can ask your child’s teacher to provide you with this information.

8. The Most Important Part of the Meeting • Ask specific questions about what you can to do to help your child. • Find out how you can contact the teacher. • Find out how the school will communicate with you.

9. After the Meeting • Talk about the meeting with your child, and share the positive comments made by the teacher. • Develop a plan with your child to act upon suggestions from the conference. • 3. Maintain communications with the teacher.

10. Start a folder about your child • Report cards • Samples of work • Notes from the teacher • Test scores • Make a calendar • Mark the next parent-teacher meeting • Mark important events • Mark parent meetings and social events

11. Together we will make a difference in your child’s learning!