You Should Know:
- Your child’s daily schedule
- The subjects your child should take.
- The books and materials being used in all subjects.
- Your child’s class assignments and due dates of special projects, tests, etc.
- Your child’s daily homework assignments in all classes.
You Should Discuss:
- Your expectations for your child’s performance in school.
- Your opinion about your child’s reading comprehension, mathematics and writing abilities in order to check it against the teacher’s view.
- Any physical or emotional problem your child has (or has had) that could affect school work in a negative manner.
- Your child’s role in the family (youngest, oldest) and the effect other brothers and sisters may have on him/her.
- Any family crisis that may be affecting your child. These would include a death in the family, serious illness, or a divorce or separation. It may be hard to be up front about such things, but this information can help a teacher in lending important support.
- Any concerns your child would like you to discuss.
You Should Ask:
- How is my child doing in his/her school subjects?
- What is my child’s grade level in reading and mathematics, and how does he/she compare with children of the same age?
- What is the homework policy? How often can you expect homework and how it will be graded?
- Is there a difference in my child’s standardized test scores and how he/she is performing in school work? If so, what is the reason?
- How does my child get along with his/her classmates?
- Are there any discipline problems that keep my child from learning?
- How are my child’s study habits?
- Does my child show any unusual talents or abilities?
- What can I do at home to help support my child in school?
The following suggested questions from Parent Power Works are appropriate when parents conference with teachers.
Specific Question for Academic Progress:
- Is my child reading on grade level? Can you show me the books he is able to read?
- Can you explain what went into the grades on my child’s report card?
- How much time each day does my child actually spend reading, writing, or doing math?
- Is my child behind or ahead of others in the class?
- In what subject is she ahead/behind and why do you think that is?
- What lessons are you preparing for my child to make sure standards are met?
- What kind of extra help are you giving my child to catch up? What kind of other extra help do you suggest? What can I do at home to help?
- What does the state test tell you about my child’s strengths or weaknesses?
- What are you doing to encourage his strengths, and what can I do at home to help?
Standards and Expectations:
- What does this (standard) mean?
- When will my child work on this standard during the school year?
- Can you show me examples of this standard?
- Are you teaching to these standards? Do your lessons match these standards?
- How is my child tested on this standard? How will you know if he/she has mastered it?
- What does the class work and homework look like for this standard?
- May I look at some of the work my child has done that taught him/her this?
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