6 Ideas about How Parents Can Share Information with Teachers
by Amy Cherwin
As a teacher I was trained how to teach certain subjects, manage my classroom, adjust my teaching for various levels of difficulty, and assess knowledge…etc. Even though my education was thorough, it is impossible to learn about all the aspects necessary to be a great teacher for each individual. On more than one occasion, I frustratingly depleted my bag of tricks without helping a child achieve the goal.
As I watched Successful Student Now, I found myself remembering certain students and wishing I had this information back then. I would have adjusted my techniques, made suggestions to parents, and helped that child feel more successful. I would have loved to sit down with a parent who had information that would help me better understand the root of the difficulty and plan together how to move forward.
Here are some ideas to think about as you plan for your parent teacher conference.
1. Prioritize the Information
By prioritizing the information, it allows the teacher to readily access the most important data that will positively affect your child’s school day. Think about the answers to these questions: What is the root of your child’s difficulty? What are concrete actions you have taken at home that have been beneficial?
2. . See the teacher as a teammate.
You are both trying to help your child. Both of you have information that the other needs to fulfill the goal. Work together. Feel confident enough to share your ideas.
3. Have reasonable expectations.
The teacher is there to help your child AND the other twenty seven children in the class. Try to think of ideas the teacher can do to help your child that are not hugely time consuming on a daily basis. Offer to help create systems that facilitate the teacher helping your child (like a homework calendar or a homework notebook format).
4. Be succinct
Parent Teacher Conferences are short. By staying focused and keeping to the point, you will leave time for the teacher to ask questions and make a plan with you.
5. Offer to send more information
Since time is so short, leave the teacher with some written materials or website addresses that might shed more light on the situation.
6. Time to Digest
People need time to digest new information and try out suggestions. Give the teacher a few weeks to implement some of the new strategies and read the websites. Then send her/him an e-mail to check in.
By keeping these ideas in mind as you head into the parent-teacher conference, you will be prepared, share the most important information and leave the teacher with a better understanding of your child’s reality and how to best help him/her.
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