Parent-teacher conferences provide an excellent opportunity to assess your student’s academic progress and to encourage an open line of communication with your child’s teacher. However, the days and weeks following the conference are just as important as the days leading up to the meeting. After parent-teacher conferences, review your post-conference notes, discuss the conference with your student, and develop a strategy for success.
How can you maximize your time after a parent-teacher conference? Keep reading to learn five things to do after parent-teacher conferences.
1. Review your post-conference notes
Parent-teacher conferences often involve a wealth of information, and it can take time to digest the full discussion. Review any notes that you took before, during, and after the conference, and then ask yourself the following questions:
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Did you cover the areas and issues you hoped to discuss during the conference?
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Did you discuss any strategies or plans with your student’s teacher that you will implement, either in school or at home?
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What are the main areas you hope to improve moving forward?
In order to maximize the conference, it’s important to fully understand the information gained during the meeting, as well as how you, your student, and the teacher can implement strategies to promote future success.
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2. Discuss the parent-teacher conference with your student
Share with your student what information was gathered during the conference—the good and the areas for improvement—and hear their thoughts on it. For example, if your student’s teacher notes that your child often has challenges in math class, sit down with your student to delve deeper into the issue and to pinpoint ways to improve. This may be through tutoring, extra credit projects that the teacher provides, or creative study strategies specific to your child’s needs that you can implement at home.
Be sure to discuss both positives and negatives—it’s important for your student to understand that while there may be a few areas where they can improve, there are also many things that they are doing well in school.
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3. Ask your student if there are any issues that weren't covered during the parent-teacher conference
Once you’ve discussed the results of the conference with your student, inquire if there is anything else bothering them about school that wasn’t brought up. For example, he could have an issue with another student or in a particular class that they have been hesitant to discuss with you before now. Utilize this discussion time to encourage your student to be open with you about anything on their mind. Additionally, see if there are any areas your student feels particularly strong in that weren’t discussed during the meeting. Your student could feel that they’re doing a great job in social studies class, and it can be beneficial to understand that you’re happy to discuss the positives as well.
4. Develop a strategy for success
After reviewing the notes from the conference with your child, work together to develop a game plan. Strategize ways that you and your student can develop and implement positive habits at home that relate to topics discussed during the conference. Break down the plan by subject for older students, noting both areas your student can use improvement in and areas of success that your student would like to maintain. Strategies may include a weekly discussion with your student to identify what they’re learning in each class, or developing a stricter homework routine.
5. Follow up after a parent-teacher conference with notes to your student’s teacher
This is a great way to continue to foster positive communication, and it allows for easier communication moving forward. It’s also a good opportunity to reiterate any parts of your meeting to verify you’re both on the same page, or to ask any questions regarding the feedback you received that you may not have thought of while in the meeting. Reach out periodically to check in and to let the teacher know you’re excited to be an active part of your student’s education.
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At the end of the day, it’s key to remember you and your child’s teacher are on the same team. During the hustle and bustle of the school year it can, at times, be easy to forget this. Parent-teacher conferences provide the perfect opportunity to connect, while both having your student’s best interests in mind.
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