From: Subject: Making the Most of Home School Conferences Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:36:29 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.nasponline.org/communications/webpage/conferences.txt X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 Making the = Most of Home School Conferences

Tips From Your School Psychologist

Making the Most of Home School Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences are an ideal opportunity to touch base = with your=20 child=92s teacher and establish a supportive and informative = relationship.=20 Effective home-school collaboration benefits students through higher = grades,=20 improved behavior, and more positive attitudes towards themselves and=20 school.  Attending your child=92s conference tells your son or = daughter that=20 you care about their education and that school is a priority.

Many schools have regularly scheduled conferences that take place = between two=20 and four times per year.  These tend to last a limited amount of=20 time.  Additionally, a parent or teacher may request a conference = at any=20 time to address concerns as they arise. 

Preparing for the Parent Teacher Conference

Assemble and review relevant materials.  This might = include=20 report cards, test scores, immunization/health records, or home-school=20 correspondences.  Keep material together so that you can add to it=20 periodically and access it for every school conference or = communication. =20

Talk with your child.  Inform your child about the = purpose of the=20 meeting (is it a regularly scheduled conference or related to a specific = concern?).  Assure your child that you are working with their = teacher to=20 help them succeed, not to punish them.  Ask your child for input = regarding=20 questions to ask or topics to address.

Learn about school policies.  Check the student handbook = or=20 school website to review policies related to behavior, attendance, and = dress=20 code. 

Be familiar with your child=92s homework.  Know how your = child has=20 been performing on homework assignments.  How long does it take to=20 complete?  Is it being turned in?  Is your child able to = complete=20 assignments with minimal assistance?

Prepare a list of questions for the teacher.  Think of = your=20 questions ahead of time so that you do not feel rushed at the = meeting.  If=20 you are not able to get all questions answered in the allotted time, ask = the=20 teacher if you can continue the conversation over phone or e-mail.  = Some=20 common questions: Does my child follow school rules?  Is my child = meeting=20 expectations for learning and behavior?  Is my child struggling in = any=20 area?  What are my child=92s strengths?  Are there materials = or=20 resources that you would recommend we review at home?

Be ready to collaborate.  Information about concerns or = areas for=20 improvement are shared not to indicate that your child is bad but to = discover=20 collaborative ways to help him or her improve.  At times the = message may=20 come across as placing blame on the parent or child; this is not likely = the=20 intention.  Offer to meet further to discuss the concern and work = out a=20 solution.  Remember: teachers are often as afraid to deliver = difficult=20 information as parents are to hear it.

During the Conference

Listen carefully.  Take notes if necessary.  This is = particularly helpful if one parent or caretaker is not able to = attend.  It=20 also helps you remember details so that you can ask follow-up = questions.

Offer your perspective.  Teachers should know your = child=92s=20 activities or behaviors at home relevant to school issues as well as = your views=20 on your child=92s strengths and needs.

Ask for positive information about your child.  If the = teacher=20 does not offer it directly, then ask, =93What does my child do = well?=94  If you=20 have them, share positive comments about and with the teacher as = well.  Let=20 them know that you appreciate what they are doing for your child.

Ask questions.  Don=92t hesitate to ask questions or for=20 clarifications.  Teachers, at times, may use academic or = instructional=20 language that is not familiar to parents.  Ask what test scores = mean and=20 what the results mean for your child.  Ask for explanation of = unfamiliar=20 terms.

Adapted from: =93Home School Conferences: A Guide for Parents,=94 = Andrea=20 Canter, Helping Children at Home and School II: Handouts for = Families and=20 Educators, NASP, 2004. The full handout is available online at www.nasponline.org/families.=20