As the first grading period draws to a close, many schools in Hampton Roads are scheduling teacher conferences. Whether this is your first time attending a teacher conference or you are a seasoned pro, here are some tips to make the most of the opportunity to check in on your child’s progress:
Be on Time
This is super important because your child’s teacher has many families to meet with, and this year especially, many teachers are not getting full staff days to meet with parents for conferences. Your allotted time may only be 15 or 20 minutes, which means being even five minutes late takes away precious time to get through all of the planned topics and your questions.
Prepare Notes
Spend a few minutes preparing for the conference. Think about homework load, specific areas of challenge, and any concerns you’ve noticed. Jot down your questions so you don’t forget as the conversation unfolds.
Let the Teacher Speak
It is easy to want to jump in with your thoughts and questions, but be sure to give the teacher time to get through all of the things they want to share with you first. The teacher may address some of your questions before you ask, and this ensures you get through the most important topics without running out of time.
Action Items
As your conference with the teacher wraps up, take a moment to review any open items that you will be responsible for (such as daily homework assignment check-ins, etc) and any follow-up questions the teacher will need to get back with you on. Confirm with your child’s teacher the specific areas that need the most home-based focus.
If you come out of the teacher conference knowing your child needs more help or support, Tutor A Team can help. We offer one-on-one tutoring for children at all grade levels. Whether your child needs support in one subject, or general organizational help across several subjects, Tutor A Team has the right tutor for your family.