Questions to ask at parent-teacher conferences

In a guest blog entry, Christine Tilles of Lake in the Hills Huntington Learning Center offers advice on how to get the most out of the conferences.

Tilles suggested using the following framework to come up with your own list of discussion points:

Your Child’s Progress

The most obvious topic will be your child’s school performance. Talk with your child’s new teacher about how your child is adjusting to the increased difficulty of lessons and class work. Questions to ask about your student’s academic development might include:

· What are the school’s/state’s grade level standards? 

· Is my child performing to grade level standards? 

· Is he or she keeping up with homework assignments and participating in class? 

· What are my child’s strengths? In what areas could he or she improve?

Grading and Expectations

It is important to understand how your child will be evaluated by his or her teacher throughout the year. Here are a few questions you can ask to ensure you are aware of what will be expected of your child:

· What standardized exams will my child take this year, and how will you help prepare your students for such tests in the classroom?

· How do you grade assignments? 

· How do you determine my child’s report card grades and marks? What are the various components of these grades?  

· How much time should my child spend on homework each night? 

· What skills should my child master this quarter/semester? How can I best keep track of his or her progress?

Your Involvement

All teachers welcome and encourage parental involvement, so use your conference as an opportunity discuss how you should support your child at home. Questions to ask include:

· How can I help my child improve his or her areas of weakness? 

· How can I help my child stay organized and on top of his or her homework assignments and projects? 

· What can I do to support you in your classroom objectives?

· What suggestions do you have on how to approach homework time? What is an appropriate level of parental involvement and support?

Good Communication

At the end of your parent-teacher conference, you will likely come away with a list of action items - both for you and your child’s teacher. Here are a few questions to ask before you part ways: