Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences

School has been in session for almost three months. Lockers are messy and no one gets lost in the halls anymore. The end of the quarter is here, which means it is time for parent-teacher conferences.

This is the one time when you can ask your child’s teachers what your precious angel is really like during class. Many school-related questions that teenagers respond to with an “I don’t know,” teachers can answer face-to-face.

I put the date for conferences on my calendar, and I was fired up. I regularly review my kids’ grades online, so I had many questions. What is a Spanish speaking point? How can she do better on those darn old multiple-choice tests? What is the best way to prepare for a cumulative exam? Is she being challenged enough?

I even prepared discussion notes on a notepad beforehand (don’t laugh!).

Parent-Teacher Conference Showtime

Armed with my girls’ schedules and my notes, I headed to the school. The large gymnasium was filled with teachers sitting at card tables awaiting their next customer. I walked in like a gladiator prepared for victory. I had 14 teachers to see in two hours. Let the games begin!

I felt like a ninja mom darting from corner to corner of the gym in and out of wandering parents. Gradually, I checked every teacher off my list. When I finished, I fully expected a round of applause.

Making the Most of Your Conferences

Face-to-face meetings with your child’s teachers are absolutely invaluable as a parent. Not only did I have a chance to ask about my child’s homework and exams, we discussed choir tryout options for next year, paths to being on yearbook staff, moving to higher level English, and classes where a certain someone tends to be a bit chatty. I left with even more notes and felt a huge sense of accomplishment.

As a professional parent-teacher conference superhero, I offer up the following recommendations for my fellow high school parents:

1. GO TO THEM! It shows the teachers that you care and are invested in your child’s success.
2. Go prepared. Look at your child’s grades before you go so you know what you really want to know. Is there missing homework? Are low test scores a problem? Are there any positive or negative trends?
3. Be an advocate for your child. If you know your child really wants to try out for a special band or music competition, let the teacher know and talk about what he or she needs to do to make that happen. If your child struggles with a certain type of learning, let the teacher know and talk about some learning alternatives. Find out if teachers are available for extra help before or after school or if extra credit is an option.
4. Thank your teachers. Teenagers do not give warm fuzzies or positive feedback, so imagine being around hundreds of them all day long. Teachers deserve thank yous for all they do to help get our children through the challenges of the academic world.

The next time you see parent-teacher conferences on the school calendar, block out your schedule and make time to attend. It is always good to put a name with a face, and you may even be pleasantly surprised by the positive comments you hear about your child.