Parent Teacher Conferences

Published September 20, 2007

Parent teacher conferences will be held Wednesday, September 26.  These meetings provide an excellent opportunity for parents to further their involvement in their child’s education.  The parent teacher conferences also allow parents the chance to establish a closer relationship with their child’s teacher and exchange ideas for improvement. 

There are a few things parents should keep in mind when attending these conferences.  First, parents should attend the meetings with an open mind.  “It’s helpful when parents come to a conference prepared to share questions about the classroom and the curriculum and share the learning problems and health issues their child might have,” says Scales Elementary Fifth Grade Teacher Debbie Heiman.  “It’s important for parents to come and meet their child’s teacher.  It’s also important for the teacher to get to know the parents.” 

Ravenwood High School Teacher Cyndy Howes says parents should never come to a conference with a defensive attitude.  As a mother of four, Howes says, “I never went to a conference in a defensive posture.  I wanted to be an advocate for my child, but I also knew that my child wasn’t perfect, and I hoped to learn something from the interaction with the teacher.” 

Teachers say it’s also a good idea for high school students to attend the conference with the parents.  “Student led conferences are very powerful,” said Howes.  "The student learns so very much from the process.  As a parent, I would insist that my child attend with me.” 

Above all, the main purpose of the parent teacher conference is to find ways to improve the student’s educational experience.