Parent-teacher conferences: Opportunity for active involvement

Parent-teacher conferences: Opportunity for active involvement

Gerald Donovan, Contributor, Jakarta

A large amount of research shows that parental involvement is
the most important factor in a student's success in school. But
too often, because of work commitments and the crammed schedules
of modern life, some parents' involvement with their children's
education is limited to the parent-teacher conferences that come
once or twice per year.

This puts a huge weight of importance on the effectiveness and
productivity of these conferences; this weight should be carried
by both the teacher and the parents.

Conferences where all parties stay calm and avoid blaming each
other for any problems the child may be facing are by far the
most effective. Clear and probing conversation is always going to
lead both parties towards their ultimate goal; helping your child
do well.

Questions that a teacher may ask could involve your child's
likes and dislikes at home, her listening and work habits, and
her external hobbies and interests.

While this might feel like prying, it is just part of a
process to improve the way in which your child is instructed at
school. Every child learns and develops in a different way and
no-one knows more about an individual child or holds more sway
over that child's behavior than their own parents.

The teacher is also responsible for preparing well for the
conference. There should be a good selection or portfolio of your
child's work to be viewed and discussed.

The teacher should also come to the conference with a clear
set of ideas that could help your child develop better in those
areas that need improving.

You, as a parent, also need to prepare well for the
conference. The first step is to talk to your child beforehand
and ask them what they think their strengths and weaknesses are
and whether they would like you to discuss anything in particular
with their teacher.

It is vital that your child does not see the conference as a
threatening event where he will be discussed behind his back.
Some schools avoid this issue by holding "three-way"; Parent -
Teacher - Student conferences but if your child's school does
not, you should express clearly to him that the goal of the
conference is to help him, not to criticize or pick apart his
academic performance.

You should also jot down a few notes before you join the
conference including any concerns you have about the school's
programs or policies, your individual child's progress and ways
in which you might work together in the future.

The most common parental question in these conferences; "How
is my child's progress at school?" does not generally provoke
useful answers as the vast array of different factors that answer
this question can not be covered all at once.

More effective questions could include; "How well does my
child interact with others?",my child working to the best of her
ability?", "What kind of evaluation is being done?", "What skills
and knowledge will my child be asked to master this year?" "What
are my child's strongest and weakest subjects?", anddoes my child
handle pressure such as test-taking and confrontations?".

Once again, note taking and a plan of action are important if
the conference is to have any positive actions. Discuss a study
plan with the teacher then put it into motion with your child.

But don't just leave it there; continuous monitoring of your
child's behavior, class work and homework is the only way to
ensure that the parent-teacher conference has the lasting effect
of helping your child get the best education they possibly can.

The writer works for Sekolah Bogor Raya; a national plus school.
He can be reached at gerald.donovan@mailcity.com