Meet the Teacher

A parent-teacher conference is not only for learning about your child’s progress, but for sharing your insider info on what makes her tick. These tips can help you prepare:

• PRINT
• EMAIL

Bring notes. Record questions about areas of concern or the curriculum and identify recent changes in your child’s behavior—positive or negative.

Focus. Leave your phone in the car and your other kids at home. Make the meeting a priority by eliminating distractions.  

Get to the point. Your time is limited—addressing pressing issues, like homework trouble or anxiety over classroom cliques, is most productive.

Ask for examples. If the teacher says that your son seeks the approval of others, for instance, specific examples will help you watch for the behavior at home and encourage growth where needed.

Collaborate. Teachers see and hear things that parents don’t. If there are concerns regarding your child’s behavior, refrain from defending or explaining his actions. Instead, work with the teacher to find solutions.

Listening and Following Directions
Listening and following directions are important skills that span several areas of child development. See where these skills come into play and how you can work on them with your child.

When Your Child is Always Competing for Attention: Between Teacher & Parent
Ways to deal with a child who is always competing for attention. Understanding the cause. What you can do to build the child's self esteem and teach him to cooperate with others.

When Siblings Are Compared at School
Having the same teacher as an older sibling did may create problems. Being compared to a sibling can put pressure on a student. Learn to solve the problems and reap the benefits of siblings in school.