It is that time of year when schools are inviting you to have a formal meeting with your child’s teacher/s to discuss their progress.
Nervous? There is nothing to be nervous about. Everybody involved in your child’s education are there to support your child.
Why it is important to attend parent-teacher interview
School and home partnership is vital in supporting your child’s education.
Parent- teacher interviews gives
- parents/carers and teachers the opportunity to get to know each other
- teachers and parents/ carers the opportunity to work together to help your child achieve their potential.
- you a chance to learn more about how your child is progressing.
- you to voice any concerns you have and work with the teacher to devise a way forward to support your child’s development.
What to talk about at parent-teacher interviews
It is good to go to the parent teacher interviews a little prepared. Time for the meeting is generally very short. If the meeting is after reports have been delivered, then read the report and note anything you want to raise with the teacher. This could be
- a concern or something you might not have understood in the report. Teachers can use jargon in reports with which you may not be familiar. Remember there really are no silly questions. Teachers want you to understand the progress your child is making.
- what your child’s strengths are or areas of challenge and what the school is doing to support your child and how you too can support your child.
- in relation to any aspect of your child’s education, social, emotional, physical as well as academic
Should you have a concern that will need more than the allocated time, let the teacher know and organise another time to discuss the issue. The teachers have to stick to strict times even if there is a very pressing matter. Other parents will be waiting for their interviews. It might be a good idea for you to send an email or a note to the teacher prior to the interviews so that they can get a time when you can discuss the issue without the time constraints. It is best not to wait for the parent-teacher interviews to raise any major concerns you have in relation to your child’s development. Most teachers will have contacted you should they have any major concerns with your child’s progress. Most issues can more easily sorted when it is dealt with when it is a small matter. If the school or parent wait until it becomes a more serious issue, damage could be done and is more difficult to work through.
What not to ask your child’s teachers
Please don’t ask the teacher to rank your child in comparison to the others in the class. Teachers can’t compare your child to specific children. They are able to say where your child results sit in comparison to the curriculum, either state or national curriculums.
Please don’t ask the teacher to make any comment about another child. Teachers will not discuss another child. You would not want the teacher to discuss your child with another parent.
Remember your child’s education is a collaborative process. Many professionals, work along side you to provide opportunities and support for your child to achieve their best.