Dr. Rocky's Health Corner
7 Questions Parents Should Ask During Parent Conferences
You only have 15-20 minutes at the parent-teacher conference. The grades are already on the report card. Your child's teacher has been with them for 6 hours a day since August and knows things that aren't written on the report card.
Here's what to ask:
1. Who does my child play or sit with at lunch and recess?
This tell you more about your child's year than any grade will.
2. What does my child do when the work is too hard?
Do they ask for help? Do they go quiet? Do they start messing around so no one notices they are stuck? Their strategy for being stuck is the single most useful thing you can learn in this meeting, because that is the same strategy they will carry with them as they get older.
3. Who does my child go to when they are upset?
A teacher, a trusted adult, or a particular friend? Knowing this information now is important, rather than later.
4. When in the day is my child most settled?
Some children settle to learn right away, some after recess, and some even later in the day. Knowing the shape your child is in across the day tells you when to schedule homework, a conversation, activities, and most importantly, when not to schedule.
5. What does my child do when they get something wrong?
Does my child shrug it off, do they spiral, argue, hide their work? Your child's relationship with their own mistakes is being built right now, in the classroom, and the teacher sees it multiple times throughout the day. Helping children accept challenges and accept that they will make mistakes is extremely valuable for emotional growth.
6. Have you seen my child help anyone?
Teachers aren't usually asked this question and will love to share a story about your child. This helps you see how they are when you're not in the room with them.
7. What would you like me to do at home with my student?
Ask this last, and mean it. Teachers spend the whole time giving information and almost never get asked what they actually need. You will get a straight, specific answer that helps build the teacher-parent relationship vital to your child's success.
Prior Dr. Rocky Topics (click on title)
How to Help Kids Talk About Learning Differences
Setting Boundaries at Home and Preventing Anxiety (not an endorsement or a recommendation to purchase the book)
12 Everyday Habits to Raise a Child Who Respects a "No"