It’s that time of year! Parent Teacher conferences are upon us and it is time to find out what is going on with your child at school. There are many important things to think about and remember when going to speak to your child’s teacher.1) Before the conference, think about whether or not you have questions to ask the teacher. It’s ok if you can’t think of any! (Be prepared with your questions but let the teacher speak first before you ask them. She may answer them before you have to ask!)

2) Go in with a positive attitude!

3) Before you start offering a lot of information about your child, listen to what the teacher has to say. It is important to get a good idea of the child that the teacher sees in class. Remember, class and home are completely different environments so there are times when teachers may see different behaviors or struggles than you see at home. If you are surprised at some of the things the teacher sees in class, it is ok to let him know what you see at home.

4) If a teacher discusses any struggles or weaknesses that your child may be having, it is important to then ask what she is doing in the class to help, support or modify for your child. If the teacher mentions areas where your child may be excelling, be sure to ask what is being done in class to help challenge your child in that area.

5) It is important to not only learn about your child academically, but socially too. If the teacher does not bring it up be sure to ask about whether or not your child socializes appropriately in class, at recess, etc. You can ask who in the class he tends to gravitate towards and whether or not that seems to be a good match. If so, you may want to set up some play dates with that friend outside of school.