Parent-Teacher meetings is your chance to find out how your child is developing. Since appointments are for a limited time only, it is recommended to have a focused list of questions to get the most out of your session. Here are 7 key questions to ask:
1. What is going well?
General questions about how your child is doing are a good place to start, especially if you have never met the teacher before. Not only will this give you clarity on where your child is, but it will also give you insight into how much focus your questions need to be. If your answer is vague or not binding, rephrase it specifically so you can determine how your child is behaving.
2. What needs to be worked on?
All teachers participating in parent-teacher discussions should identify areas for improvement. So, when asking this question, expect constructive feedback about how your child is doing, what homework they are doing, and how they are doing on tests. Is there a connection between your perspective and the teacher's perspective? Or are you surprised by the feedback? Because parent-teacher meetings are about your child's progress, not the more important issues that need to be discussed in one long meeting.
3. Is my child's progress as expected?
While you can't help but compare your child's development to that of their siblings and friends, it is important that your child's development matches your own. Unrealistic expectations can cause problems, so it's important to understand that the level of progress will vary depending on your child's starting point. You can ask if it's progressing fast enough and if not, what can you do about it.
4. If you could focus on one area, what would it be?
Hearing all the different feedback about your child can be overwhelming. But all students have to work things out one way or another. Ask your child's teacher what works best for them to focus. It could be more editing, more past work, more reading, or more attention to detail.
5. Does my child speak in class?
Discussing opinions and issues in the open space allows students to build strong arguments in their essays and reports. If your child is hesitant to do this, the teacher should be able to highlight the problem. It could be a lack of confidence, shyness, not knowing the answers, fear of being wrong, or being surrounded by louder, more opinionated students. Work with teachers to discuss small steps your child can take. It's also about being honest about your child's personality and talking about what works (encouragement or small group discussion) and what doesn't work (calling out in front of everyone).
6. Does my child need additional support?
This is an important question to support the feedback your child has received. If they are struggling, what extra support can they get at school and what can they do at home? , tutoring, additional review sessions at school, or a way to contact teachers if your child needs additional assistance.
7. Is my child doing well socially?
It is important to know how your child interacts with other students.
Of course, you could also get a tutor that can help with your child's area of weakness. Book a consultation meeting here