Parent Teacher Conferences Are Important

I recently read an article called Are Parent Teacher Conferences A Waste Of Time and felt that I had to share my thoughts on that subject.

I do not believe parent teacher conferences are a waste of time, however I do think they are used incorrectly. Years ago a parent teacher conference lasted anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Nowadays, the average one lasts 15 minutes, which I think we can all agree is not enough time to completely discuss a child's performance for the quarter.

I believe that parent teacher conferences should be a re-cap of things that have already been discussed throughout the quarter. I talk to my child's teacher every day. We may only talk for a few minutes, but this is how I can really keep an eye on how my daughter is doing in school. Sometimes I talk to her before and after school.

A huge benefit to this is being able to deal with issues while they are fresh and currently happening. But it is not always about bad things. This is a great way to see how your child is flourishing and reward her, even if it the reward is a loving hug. Either way, it is best to address things as they are happening. Regardless of whether you talk to your child's teacher every day, it is still important to attend the parent teacher conference.

Before your parent teacher conference get yourself prepared. Make a list of questions you have or ideas that you would like to discuss. Talk to your child and find out what they would like to be discussed. If the child is allowed at the conference then by all means include them. My daughter attends all the conferences with me and participates in the conference.

While attending your parent teacher conference be sure to ask the teacher questions like, what are my child's best and worst subjects, does my child get along well with others, does my child squint or constantly complain that she can't see the chalkboard, and does my child participate in discussions and group activities? Try to come up with a plan of action together and then run with it. Don't be shy. Ask questions and share your opinions. If you and your child's teacher work together, remain calm, and don't play the blame game then the conference should be a success.

I am one of the few parents who actually look forward to the parent teacher conference. It is my way of judging if the steps that have been taken are working or not. Of course I knew what the issues were and came up with steps to take because of the quick talks every day.

A parent teacher conference should be a happy thing for parents, the teacher and the child. I think we can all agree that education is extremely important. Use the parent teacher conferences as a way to ensure that your child is doing well in school. Remember, teachers are not there to put the parents on the spot or to put down a child. They just want your opinion on what is the best way to help your child get the most out of school.

We can all agree that every child is different and learns in different ways. The more a teacher knows about a child's personality, likes, dislikes, work habits and listening skills then the easier it is to figure out how to get the child to enjoy school and prosper there.

The parent teacher conference is also a great time to address any issues that your child may have with the teacher. Let's face it, not every child is going to like every teacher. It is important to find out how your child feels about her teacher and how the teacher feels about her. A few years ago my daughter thought her teacher was too mean to her and didn't listen to her. At the first parent teacher conference I brought that up to the teacher and she then turned to my daughter and the two of them discussed the problem and made a plan to alleviate it. It's safe to say that children are not going to learn or enjoy school if they hate their teacher.

I really do think that most teachers do care about their students. They want to help and see the child really prosper in class and enjoy school. It is a two way street though. You, the parents should take an active roll in your child's education. Talking to your child's teacher and attending the parent teacher conferences are a great way to stay connected and help the teacher help your child.