Do you feel like you missed something after every parent teacher conference? You are not alone. Most parents want to ask the teacher the right questions, get a deeper understanding of their child’s learning and behaviour,
but when the meeting comes around, there is neither enough time nor clarity. In fact, a parent teacher meeting is not a formal process, but an opportunity to help your child in a sensible way।.
In this article, we explain: how to make the meeting stress-free and effective, what questions uncover real problems,
and how to keep the conversation alive after the meeting so that change is really visible. If you want to build a strong bridge between school and home for your child, this guide is for you.
What is a parent-teacher conference and what is its purpose?
When we are concerned about our child’s learning and development, we often wonder what is actually happening to him at school? Parent-teacher conference is a very effective way to answer this question,
because of which we get to know about the child’s education and behavior from the child’s teacher. These parent teacher conferences, which are held once or twice a year,
are a small meeting of about 15 to 30 minutes in which parents and teachers properly discuss the child’s studies, behavior, friendship,
interests and needs. It is not just a formality of seeing a report card, but a time when we think together about how the child can do better.
Sometimes a special educator, counselor or any other member of the school may also participate in this parent conference,
especially if the child needs any special support. This conversation is completely confidential and its purpose is that the home and school work together in the same direction.
A positive and prepared parents teacher meeting not only helps the teacher to understand the child better, but also assures the parents that their child is being taken care of.
This is the reason why nowadays there is a lot of discussion on topics like “parent teacher conference tips for teachers” and “tips for parent teacher conferences” so that this meeting can be meaningful and helpful for both the parties.
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Important things to keep in mind
- Parent teacher conference is not just a time to share information, but an opportunity to find solutions together.
- This meeting helps in understanding the child’s studies as well as his social and emotional development.
- Good parent teacher conferences build a bridge of trust between home and school.
- If there is any problem, it is important to talk openly in the parent conference so that help can be received in time.
- This meeting is like a team work in which the child, teacher and parents are connected together.
Why are parent teacher conferences important?
Parent teacher conferences are not just a formal conversation but it is a very important stage in the learning journey in the child’s life. When parents and teachers are in regular communication,
the child’s confidence, grades and behavior, all three improve. Through this, not only teachers share their opinions, but parents also get a chance to share their experiences and views so that a bright future can be thought of for the child’s bright future.
A research by Harvard University (2012) found that children whose parents regularly communicate with teachers and keep discussing about the children and their
growth saw a 15% improvement in school attendance and a 40% improvement in homework submission. In addition, according to the National Education Association (NEA),
parent-teacher meetings play a positive role in the academic success of students, especially when both parties discuss the individual needs of the children. Therefore, an effective parents teacher meeting is a partnership that guides the child’s future.
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Impact of Parent Teacher Conferences around the world
It is clear around the world that parent teacher conferences have a direct impact on children’s learning and social development.
A study conducted by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in 2019 shows that in countries where parents are more involved in school activities and meet their children’s
teachers through parent meetings or school programs, students perform 22% better on average, especially in reading, math, and science.
According to the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) report, students whose parents meet teachers regularly have higher school attendance and engagement, and are 35% less likely to drop out of school
These figures show that parent conference is not just a means of communication, but a strategy to secure the future of children and it is also very important.
This is such a good method that in today’s time parent teacher meetings are held in every school in the world.
This meeting gives birth to responsibility, motivation and confidence in children and this is what makes them successful in life.
How to prepare for a parent teacher conference?
Parent teacher conferences are an important way to better understand children’s academic and social progress. An effective parent conference is not just a process of listening to the teacher,
but a collaborative conversation where parents can share important information about their child. Start preparing by reviewing school report cards, recent test scores, and homework tracking.
If there are any problems or concerns in advance, note them down and think in a solution-focused way. This will make the communication more effective at the parent teacher meeting.
According to the Learning Heroes 2024 report, 89% of parents believe their child is performing at grade-level, while only 29% of children are actually at grade level This means that most parents need clear and honest feedback from the teacher.
Therefore, preparation is essential for a successful parent-teacher conference. It is not just an opportunity to gain information, but also to build a partnership.
Meaningful Actionable Points
- Discuss report cards and results of previous exams. This will help guide the discussion.
- Prepare a list of questions to ask the teacher – such as: “How does my child respond in class?”
- Reach the meeting on time and talk with an open mind – so that the teacher also sees you as a partner.
- As an alternative, plan an online meeting – this is helpful when you are busy or far away.
What to ask and how to talk in a parent-teacher meeting?
A successful parent teacher conference is an opportunity in which the teacher and parents together meaningfully advance the child’s education and development.
This communication should be emotionally supportive and informative. If this is not the case then there is no benefit of this meeting, so it is beneficial to make a plan in advance.
Research shows that parent involvement improves children’s academic performance in school by 4–5%, especially if the family and school work together.
Therefore, parent meetings are very important in today’s times and also what topics parents should discuss with the teacher.
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5 Reliable and Useful Questions
- Does my child participate in class?
- “Why and in which subjects does he need extra help? Your and my
- How has his behavior been in class this month?
- What can I do at home to support the school?”
- Do you agree with my concern?”
Source
How do teachers and parents work together to find solutions when there is a problem?
A child’s learning difficulties or behavioural challenges (such as anger, withdrawal, not making friends) are often first revealed to parents at a parent-teacher conference. But when discussing this, both teachers and parents need to understand each other’s perspective, avoid judgement, and move toward a solution.
According to the Harvard Family Engagement Report (2023), when schools and families create interventions togethe.r, children’s academic progress improves by 41% over 6 months.
Why is follow-up important after the meeting and how to keep the conversation going?
Parent-teacher meetings are not like a report card that comes once a year and then stops. This is a process of trust, continuous dialogue and partnership between the
two most important people in a child’s progress, parents and teachers. Therefore, this partnership should not start and end only in a meeting.
The real change in a child comes when the conversation continues through short messages, updates, and attention to the child’s progress.
Therefore, the report of Learning Policy Institute shows that regular dialogue and follow-up has seen an increase of up to 24% in student attendance and strong improvement in reading skills.
These figures do not mean just numbers, they show that in taking children forward, not just the school or the parents alone, but the partnership of both is necessary.
Parent teacher conference is not just a formal process, it is the beginning of that trust in which the child does not feel alone but a part of a supportive team. And when he feels this, the pace of learning automatically increases.
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Conclusion
Now that you know that parent-teacher conference is not just about seeing reports but about improving the child’s future, take it as an opportunity next time.
Talk openly to the teacher, ask important questions and stay in touch even after the meeting. Small things like making notes, sending emails or following up can make a big difference for your child.
Remember, when parents and teachers think together, the child moves forward with full confidence. Now it is your turn to make the next meeting the beginning of change.
FAQs About Parent-teacher conference
Q1. What is the real purpose of a parent-teacher conference?
A parent-teacher conference is an opportunity for parents and teachers to understand how the child is learning in school, what his needs are, and what can be done together to improve it. This is not just a place to discuss marks, but an opportunity to openly talk about the child’s behavior, interests, social development and mindset.
Q2. What should be asked in parent-teacher conferences?
You must ask: How is my child performing in class? Where is he facing difficulties? What did the teacher find him best at? How can you help him? And can any such habit or routine be formed at home that will strengthen his learning process?
Q3. Is it necessary to attend a parent conference?
Absolutely. Your participation in the parent teacher meeting sends the message that you are serious about your child’s education. This makes the child feel more responsible and also increases his confidence.
Q4. Should children be included in parent teacher conferences?
If the child is older, he can be included for some time at the end, but do not complain to the teacher in front of him. This can cause him to develop hatred towards his self-image. Speak to him with love and respect in front of the teacher. This makes him understand that his parents and teachers are on the same team and his progress is everyone’s shared responsibility.
Q5. What to prepare before parent teacher conferences?
Write down the child’s recent progress report, any concerns or questions in advance. Think about what you want to know—the child’s participation in class, behavior, study habits, and whether he is getting along well with his peers.
Q6. How to talk in parent-teacher meetings?
Make the conversation collaborative and positive. Instead of complaining, be in the spirit of finding solutions. Start the conversation with the thought, “How can we improve together?” And yes, listen to the teacher too, don’t just speak.
Q7. Is a parent conference only for negative things?
No. Often parents think that being called to a meeting means something is wrong. But it is not so. Sometimes the teacher just wants to tell that the child is doing well in some things and how it can be improved further.
Q8. What to do if for some reason you miss the parent-teacher conference?
Request to meet the teacher at alternate times. If face-to-face is not possible, then choose the option of phone or video call. And yes, it is better to ask questions through email instead of keeping quiet.
Q9. Should one speak up if there is a disagreement with the teacher?
Definitely speak up but respectfully. If you feel that something is not right in the context of your child, then clearly state your point of view. Teachers also want parents to talk openly and honestly.
Q10. Are the same things discussed in the conference every time?
No. The focus of the discussion may change each time depending on the child’s age, grade and situation for example, in younger classes, the discussion is on social behavior and learning pace, while in older classes it is on future planning, goal setting and specialization.
Q 11. Is it okay to talk about behavior in parent-teacher conferences?
Absolutely. Behavior greatly affects the learning process. If the child is quiet, does not pay much attention, or fights with others—it is very important to talk about all these aspects.
Q12. How to understand whether the child is at the expected level or not in a parent teacher conference?
You may ask Is my child meeting grade-level expectations? You can compare the school with the district or national average. Teachers can make this clear to you through assignments, assessments and grades.
Q 13. How to discuss children’s learning styles in a conference?
Ask the teacher “How do you think my child can learn better?” This will help you understand how to teach at home and in what ways he can be helped in school because the teacher has taught many children and has experience in this, so the teacher can help you a lot in this matter.
Q14. Does the parent teacher conference have an impact on the child?
It is natural for this to happen and yes it does happen. If the child knows that his parents take interest in his studies and talk to the teacher about it, then his self-confidence increases. He feels more responsible and motivated, which increases his performance in education.
Q15. Why is follow-up necessary after the conference?
Because the child’s progress does not happen with a single day’s conversation. You should keep getting updates on the next steps decided by the teacher. This not only maintains the continuity of learning, but also strengthens the relationship of trust between school and home.