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Publication #FAR1716

 

Parent-Teacher Conferences1

Suzanna Smith2

Figure 1. 
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Teachers set aside time for parent-teacher conferences some time during the school year so they can talk with parents and try to work together to help the student succeed. The National Education Association and the U.S. Department of Education advise parents to prepare for these conferences to make the most out of the time they have with teachers.

Before you go, make a list of things you want to discuss with the teacher, such as how your child is doing at school in his or her studies and in relationships with classmates. Help the teacher understand your child's special talents, interests and hobbies, how she or he learns, and struggles with homework or any particular subject. Bring up the most important matters first, just in case time runs out. During the conference, the teacher will talk about your child's work and progress, and may have grades, test results, or other information to show you. Ask questions and take notes so you can follow up at home.

Be sure to ask the teacher for suggestions on how to help your child at home. It's important for you to schedule a conference if problems arise. Your child's grades might have dropped suddenly, or she or he may be upset about something that happened in school. You may also let the teacher know if something changes at home that may affect the student's learning, such as a new baby, parental illness, or divorce.

Keep in mind that the purpose of any parent-teacher conference is to help your child in school. And, as a parent, you are an important part in the partnership, working together with the teacher and your child to help your child succeed.

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

To listen to the radio broadcast:

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/495.mp3

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/495.wav

References

National Education Association. (1987). How to make parent-teacher conferences work for your child (Stock No. 5174-2). Retrieved August 7, 2006, from http://www.nsea.org/parents/articles/chalktalk13.htm [20 September 2012] http://www.nea.org/tools/parent-teacher-conferences.html.

PBS Parents. (2002-2006). The parent-teacher partnership: Talking with teachers. Retrieved August 4, 2006, from http://www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/talking_teachers.html.

U.S. Department of Education. (2003). My child's academic success: Working with teachers and schools—helping your child succeed in school. Retrieved August 7, 2006, from http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/succeed/part8.html.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR1716, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 495 in April 2009. Published on EDIS 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Suzanna Smith, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.