The school year is now underway. Your kids have been reacclimating to the classroom, seeing all their friends, and of course learning. Pretty soon, the time will come to hear how they are doing, the time for you to meet with their teachers and get a feel for what needs to improve. To figure out what they are doing right and how to help your child reach their potential. Before you go into that meeting, here are some important reminders for you!
Be Prepared
Nothing is worse than showing up to an interview unprepared. If you’re going to make the most of your time, you want to answer questions effectively and listen attentively. So, always have the relevant materials ready, and make sure to review said materials. The materials could be previous report cards, a math test, or any other records you have. This will help freshen your understanding of where your child is academically and can weigh that against what the teacher says.
Talk To Your Child Beforehand
Another good way to prepare for a conference is to understand how your child feels about the class. If it is a routine conference, ask them how they think about the course; if they have had any difficulty with it? Ultimately you want to understand how your child perceives their performance and their input in the class. You may think that your child is dealing with a mean teacher, only to find out that they have just been talking through all the classes with their best friend. Or vice versa, your child may be doing great in class but has not been socializing. Knowing how your child feels can give you the complete picture for when you speak to their teacher.
Be Ready To Problem Solve
The goal of these conferences is to diagnose and remedy any issue that a student may have. If everything is fine with the student, you don’t have to worry about much, as this is just a check-in from the teacher. Should your child need extra academic support, the teacher is there to help find the proper solution. Maybe the student needs a math tutor or just an additional few minutes of math practice after school. Regardless of what they need, the teacher is there to help you find a solution and develop a plan to benefit your child. It is paramount that you ask questions about your child and shares your perspective on the issue that a teacher presents. Do not hesitate to ask questions about your child, as the teacher is the perfect person to answer them.
So going into parent-teacher conferences, remember that you are there to collaborate and find a way to help your child achieve their potential. Thank the teacher for their help, and listen to what they have to say. If your child requires assistance in Geometry, Calculus, Algebra, or any math level, get them that tutor. Call us to ask about our time-tested methods to get kids the math support that they need.