With parent-teacher conferences quickly approaching in many school districts here in Central Ohio and around the country, some parents are understandably nervous. Truth is, they may fear the worst about their child’s performance in the classroom. While a little anxiety about this formal meeting is normal, parents should view it as an opportunity to build communication and understanding between the home and their child’s school. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help ensure that your time with the teacher is well spent.

1. Respect the schedule. Parent-teacher conferences are short, so be sure to arrive on time. If you are late, don’t expect to compensate for that on the other end. These conferences are usually scheduled back-to-back, and other parents will be waiting to speak with the teacher when your allotted time is over. So, don’t expect to discuss or solve everything during this first meeting. If additional contact with the teacher is necessary, schedule a follow-up phone call, email or meeting.
2. Be prepared. The best way to make use of your time is to create a list of questions or points you want to cover–before the day of the conference. Bring your child’s report card or any homework or test papers you want to discuss. And be sure to prioritize your topics from most important to least important. Some items may have to wait for another time.
3. Let the teacher take the lead. Most parent-teacher conferences begin with an update from the child’s teacher. This is meant to be a starting point for the discussion, but in no way means that the teacher should dominate the conversation.
4. Refrain from criticism. The last thing you want to do is stymie the lines of communication with your child’s teacher. You can avoid this by not starting the conversation with a complaint. Instead, ask objective questions that don’t attempt to place any blame with the teacher or the school.
5. Set the tone for a partnership. As the parent, you are the expert on your child’s personality, including what makes her anxious, what motivates her and what makes her happy or proud. You have critical information about your child’s strengths, talents, hobbies and interests. Because this information can be helpful to the teacher, don’t hesitate to share it. Conversely, your child’s teacher sees her in a classroom setting and can share information about how she interacts with peers, how she learns, and how she may be trying out her independence and asserting her developing personality away from home. Although you may hear a few things that surprise you, embrace this opportunity to see your child through the eyes of another adult who cares about her well-being.
6. Share what you learned at the conference. After the conference, let your child know what you learned from her teacher–both the good and the bad. It’s important that she feels like her teacher and parent(s) are working together on her behalf. If there are areas in which your child can be improving, work together as parent and child to develop a plan of action.
7. Exchange contact information with your child’s teacher. Once you’ve met in person, now you can continue to communicate via email or phone. Make it easy by letting your child’s teacher know how to reach you.
8. Offer to volunteer. Sure, life is busy, but getting involved in your child’s education should be a priority in your life. Volunteering to share your skills in your child’s classroom is a great way to get involved. Think you don’t have anything to offer? That’s probably not the case. From being a guest speaker to baking cookies for a class party to offering to chaperone a field trip, there are countless ways to share your time and expertise.
9. Say thank you. Time may be short, but don’t leave the conference without expressing your thanks for the teacher’s efforts, time, and attention to your child’s education. Let the teacher know that he or she has your support. You can work together to help your child succeed.