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Getting your children
off to a good start in the new school year involves more
than simply stocking their backpacks with the proper
school supplies and enforcing earlier bedtimes. In fact,
parents have two important "back to school" events
coming up that can help set the stage for a successful
school year.
This issue of Elementary
Edition looks at ways families can get the most out of
open houses and parent-teacher conferences. It also
suggests four important ways parents can support their
child's learning all year long.
Back to school-for parents, too!
Open house is an annual event that gives parents the
opportunity to meet the school administrators, special
area teachers, librarians, school social workers and
others.
But most importantly, open house is the time to meet
your child's classroom teacher, learn what your child
will be studying and what will be expected of him or her
in the coming year. It's also a good time to find out
about opportunities to volunteer in the classroom and
other school settings.
Keep in mind, open house is a time to listen and ask
big-picture questions. Save questions or concerns about
your child's individual performance for a private
follow-up, like the parent-teacher conference.
Getting the most out of your parent-teacher
conference
Parent conferences are private meetings with your
child's teacher, and sign-up generally takes place at
the open house. The annual fall/winter parent-teacher
conference is a prime opportunity for you to talk about
your child's personality and anything else you think
will help the teacher gain insights about him or her.
These conferences are also an important opportunity to
hear about your child's academic performance, how well
he or she gets along with classmates and if there are
any areas of concern.
The following tips can
help you get the most value from upcoming parent-teacher conferences:
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Have some advance
discussions with your spouse and your child before the conference to
brainstorm questions or concerns. For example, do you have questions about the
amount of time your child should be spending on homework or nightly reading?
Are you wondering how to help your child prepare for the new state tests in
grades 3-8 this year? Make a list of questions and bring it with you to the
conference. If you run out of time, make a point to follow up later.
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If a problem area
is identified, think positive. Talk about possible underlying causes that
might be at play, such as social or emotional stresses — in school or at home.
Ask for advice about how you can work together with the teacher to resolve any
problems. Don't be afraid to ask about school-based resources to help your
child be successful, such as academic intervention services (AIS) or help from
a school counselor or social worker.
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Once the
conference is over, take a few minutes to jot down some notes. Make a list of
any ideas that the teacher gave you that will help your child be successful in
school. At the same time, make a record of any actions you agreed to take
(e.g., checking homework nightly) and write down any questions you may still
have. If you'd like another meeting to discuss details, call or write the
teacher to set it up.
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Let your child
know what you talked about in the conference. Knowing that adults were talking
about them out of earshot makes some children a little anxious. Let your child
know what kinds of things you talked about. Stress the positive points. If
there are any problem areas, get your child's perspective as well. Then be
prepared to talk about what each of you-parent, teacher and student-can do to
make things better.
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Start a school
folder for each of your children. Include past conference notes, notes from
the teacher and school staff, standardized test results and any notes you have
made in the time between conferences. Then when conference time rolls around
again next year, you'll have quick reference materials to draw upon.
>
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For
permission to reprint this article, please contact the
Capital Region BOCES Communications Service at (518)
464-3960.
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