Your child is watching your attitude/Parent teacher conferences are about them

Remember, you are attending the conference to learn more about your child. And, the fact that you are making the effort to go shows your child you are invested in them not only for the soccer shoes, tennis racket or the tutor, but the time you take to talk with the people who spend a majority of your child's day with them. Actions do speak volumes and words about your efforts are mega-hertz louder than you think. Be aware of how you talk about the conferences and yes, it may be a busy day, but positive words about getting to the school are so much better than a negative comment about the time it will take, or the news you might get. Model responsibility and grace and most of all interest in what your child spends 8 hours a day doing. If they know you notice, the behavior they want to exhibit will probably be positive. Put in the time with a smile. Your child will notice.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: When 10 minutes isn't enough

Sometimes there seems to be more information to share than the allotted 10-15 minutes plugged in for Parent/Teacher conferences. Both you and the teacher know this and try to get as much info in as possible. Sometimes the results are blips of bad news, or quickly reviewed strengths and some goals. All of this is a good place to start. Take a step back and view the conference as a check up point and a springboard for more in depth communication later if you are feeling that there is more you'd like to discuss. Pressuring the teacher into discussing difficult things in their tight schedule will be counter productive. Build the relationship with your child's teacher as a team surrounding the child, and have a list of concerns and positives you'd like to have a chance to talk to the teacher about. If you feel there is more to discuss, ask to schedule a meeting with the teacher when you both have more time. Connect via e-mail and schedule a meeting based on the conference "Springboard".

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher conferences are around the corner. Ever feel like you are just sitting there listening..sort of? Go in prepared with some questions. How? Talk to your kids. Ask them about two good things at school and two things they'd change. Older kids can be approached with more direct things like, 'I'm going to your conferences in a week. Anything I need to know? How's it been in Mrs. Jones' class? What's your best class? One you don't like as much?"
Then formulate questions for the teacher. Have some positives to say also and always ask if there is anything you can do at home.
More tomorrow about how to prep for that conference you are dreading.