Teachers put a lot of time and energy into preparing for conferences.  It's important for parents and students to prepare too.

ALWAYS take your child with you to conferences.  This creates a tradition that keeps you out of the "he said she said" loop when they get older. 

Step 1:  Think about the things you want to TALK about.

Have your child help you make a list of things to talk about.  The teacher will welcome this as a sign that you and your child take school very seriously.

Some questions to ask your child are:

• What have you been working on?
• Have you turned in all of your assignments?
• Are you getting along with the other kids in your class?
• Are there any problems at school?

Be prepared to share your insights.

Let the teacher or other school staff know about your child's study habits, special interests and any health problems that may affect his or her learning.

You might also want to share any recent experiences (like a death in the family) that could be affecting your childs performance or behavior. This information will help school staff better understand your child.

If something serious has happened at home, don't wait for conferences!  Call your child's teacher or make an appointment.  Teachers and other school staff can do a better job of meeting your child's needs if they know what's going on at home.

Step 2:  Think about the things you want to HEAR about.

Make a list of questions to ask, such as:

• How is my child doing in your class?
• Is he/she having any problems?
• Are there any problems we can work on at home?
• What will the class be studying in the upcoming months?

Some questions may be more appropriate for certain grade levels. For example, if your child is in elementary school, you might ask:

• How well is my child doing in reading and math?
• How well does my child work independently? Or with others?
• How does my child seem to feel about school or his or her own abilities?

Other questions may be more appropriate if your child is older (grades 6-12):

• How is my child doing in your class?
• How often do you assign homework? Is my child completing homework assignments as expected?

Listen carefully to the information provided by your child's teacher or other school staff. This information will give you additional ideas for questions to ask.

Step 3.  TALK about the conference with your child AFTER you get home.

Is your child meeting your expectations?  If not, work together to decide what you can do differently at home to help.  Clearly describe your expectations and decide together what the consequences should be for not meeting them.

Is your child making a lot of progress or doing a great job?  Celebrate on the way home with a stop for an ice cream cone or at home with a special dinner or favorite family activity.  Let your child know you're proud of his or her successes.

Step 4.  Take ADVANTAGE of what you learned.

Is your child studying a particular country?  Go to a restaurant or make a family meal using traditional recipes of that culture.

Minnesota History?  Go to the Minnesota History Museum or explore local historic places.

Science?  Go to the Science Museum, the Bakken or the Bell Museum of Natural History.

The environment?  Explore the many parks and nature centers in our community.

Knowing what your child is going to be studying helps you tailor your home and family activities to support learning.