Preparing for an upcoming meeting with your child’s math teacher? Here are a few tips.

Parent teacher conference meetings are a great opportunity to see if the year is off to a strong start or if your child needs a bit more support. Since math is sequential and builds upon itself, a private visit with your child’s teacher is the best way to ensure your child’s improvement begins earlier in the year rather than waiting until your child is even further behind in the Spring.

These conversations can bring more clarity than the feedback your child might provide. Also, samples of your child’s work will be available so you can monitor progress from home. 

Tips for getting the most out of your conference:

Before the meeting

• Talk with your child about how the school year is going for them so far - do they participate in class, are they feeling confident and challenged, can they ask questions when needed?
• Make a list of topics with you or your student you would like clarification on so that you can support their learning from home
• Make notes of changes in your child’s work habits or attitudes to share with teacher - avoidance of specific concepts, not challenged in class, confusion, frustration, or lack of perseverance in problem solving

During the conference

• Ask the teacher to see work samples from your child
• Ask to see an exemplary sample of any concepts your child is working on so you can help your them rise to the challenge
• Remember both you and the teacher are invested in your child’s success; ask for tips to foster continued communication with the teacher about your child’s progress
• Thank the teacher! They work very hard this week to update all their students’ families on their progress!

After the conference

• Your child may be eager to hear about the conference - find a calm time to review what was discussed so that any changes can be implemented immediately
• Begin the conversation with your child by sharing highlights and positive feedback from class so far this year
• Inform your child of any upcoming changes that will help them be more successful in the classroom - new seating, additional enrichment for extra challenge, before or after school support
• Continue to communicate with your child’s teacher to ensure any new plans are in motion and assess your child’s progress throughout the year - make changes as needed

We love hearing feedback from your child’s math teacher! During your child’s Mathnasium session we are happy to support their classwork. Just provide us with a class syllabus, sample classwork, or other materials from the teacher. Your child’s teacher is also more than welcome to contact us directly at [email protected].

If your child isn't currently enrolled at Mathnasium and you are in need of math enrichment, visit our Washington, D.C. Learning Center! Or Schedule an Assessment to see what areas we could focus on to make them feel confident and secure in their math education.

You may also be interested in:  How can I help my child understand multiplication?  or Is Mathnasium the right fit for your child?