Making the Most of Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent-teacher interviews can sometimes be daunting for everyone concerned. When it comes to these one or twice a year meetings, parents, children and teachers are often as nervous as one another as they broach the potentially awkward subject of a child's classroom progress.

Parents and teachers have a mutual interest in the welfare and education of a child - and a positive approach to your next meeting with your child's teacher could make a real difference to the rest of their school year.

Parent-teacher interviews are not all about problems. If your child is doing well at school, there are still many questions that you can ask which will help you to get the most out of your time with the teacher.

*   ‘What goals would you like to see my child achieve?'

This a question that parents of well behaved and high achieving kids can ask. This will enable your child's teacher to work with you to set objectives for your child that might lead to further success.

*   ‘What is my child reluctant to do?'

This can often reveal information about a child's likes and dislikes and this question can open the way for teachers to tell you about your child's social and academic preferences.

*   'What can I do to support what is being done at school?'

This is always a question that teachers appreciate. By indicating your willingness to work with the teacher as a team, you will often receive helpful tips and information about your child's studies that will make homework time a lot easier. If your child is experiencing difficulties at school, the parent-teacher interview is an essential part of creating a working relationship that encourages your child's learning and development. Talking about a child's learning or behaviour problems is not easy and can be emotionally charged. Being prepared with sensible questions and an open approach to communication is the best way to get the most out of these kinds of parent-teacher meetings.

*   'Can you be specific about the problems my child experiences?'

A key question. Focus on the learning difficulties that your child's teacher has observed and ask how your child's learning style affects their classroom performance. If the difficulty is related to behaviour, ask the teacher to identify the actual behaviours and give you examples which illustrate their concerns.

*   'Is there any particular context in which these problems arise?'

Another valuable question. If your child's learning or behavioural difficulties arise in any kind of pattern, they could be exacerbated by simple factors like fatigue, hunger, classroom seating or peer relationships. Ask the teacher if the problems are more evident when there has been a change to the classroom schedule or when routines have been disrupted. Working through these kinds of possibilities can make it easier for your child's teacher to identify the triggers that interrupt your child's learning.

*   "What strategies are being used to help my child overcome the problem?'

A crucial point. Knowing about the techniques being used in class will help you to reinforce those strategies at home. If your child is receiving assistance from other professionals, such as a paediatrician, counsellor, speech pathologist or occupational therapist, this is a perfect opportunity for you to exchange their advice with the teacher so that everyone is on the same page.

*   'When can we meet again?'

Perhaps the most important question for parents of a child who is struggling. Your parent-teacher interview will be most effective if you make a plan with the teacher that specifically outlines three or four concrete actions that you can follow up every day. This commitment on your part will encourage your child's teacher and give them a time frame in which to review the effectiveness of the strategies you have agreed upon.

Parent-teacher interviews work best when the issues are defined and discussed objectively and amicably. Remember, your child's teacher wants your child to be the best they can be, so fight the temptation to blame or feel blamed and focus on the one thing that is most important - your child's welfare and happiness at school.

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