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Check this list before your parent-teacher conference.
That old saying is true -- knowledge is power -- for both kids and parents. Which is why it's so important to know what to expect. Here are 9 questions to engage the teacher at your first conference.
- What will my child be expected to accomplish this year in each subject?
- What types of projects and assignments will help my child succeed?
- How will my child be evaluated and how often?
- How do your evaluation methods compare to other school districts’?
- What can I do at home to support what is going on in the classroom?
- How do I know what/when homework has been assigned?
- What if my child is easily bored, or easily frustrated? How do you accommodate differences in learning?
- Are there programs available for students who may need extra help?
- Can parents volunteer to contribute to classroom activities?
More questions by ages and stages
Ages 2 to 5
- What is a typical day like in the classroom?
- What if my child is shy or clingy to me when I drop her off?
- How do you handle disciplining the children in the classroom?
- How is developmental progress evaluated?
- How structured or unstructured is the classroom?
Ages 6 to 8
- What are some milestones for this age group?
- To what extent do kids use computers?
- How much homework is assigned each week?
- Are phonics skills and punctuation stressed in writing?
- Are there trouble signs to be aware of regarding learning pace?
Ages 9 to 12
- How are students prepared for future learning before high school?
- Is tutoring available for students who may need more help?
- Are children encouraged to think about career interests?
- How can I support the teachers in achieving higher academic standards?
- How much does peer pressure come into play in the classroom? How can we as parents address this issue?