3 Tips for Parents to Make the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences

The school year is in full swing and Parent-Teacher Conferences for elementary schools are taking place this week. Parent-Teacher Conferences are more than a quick check-in on grades; they're an opportunity to build a strong partnership between teachers and parents to ensure students receive a quality education that works for them.

To help parents of elementary students make the most out of their parent-teacher conference, here are three pieces of advice shared directly from our teachers.

#1: Come Open-Minded
Every teacher we spoke with emphasized that a parent-teacher conference is a team effort. Jessica Azpeitia-Shelton, a 2nd-grade teacher at Playa del Rey Elementary, advises parents to come to conferences with an open mind. Shelton says parents and teachers are on the same team, with teachers using their training and professional experience to best support students’ needs. By coming to the conference with a collaborative and open mindset, teachers and parents can more easily work together to ultimately enhance a student’s education.

Tip #2: Ask Questions
Tami Kitagawa, a 1st-grade teacher at Carol Rae Ranch Elementary, emphasizes the importance of asking questions, saying Parent-Teacher Conferences are a chance to get a holistic view of students. Asking questions about what students love and don’t love about school can help ensure that teachers and parents are on the same page so that teachers can easily incorporate a student's strengths into lessons. By asking questions and engaging in conversations with parents, teachers can also learn about what students are doing outside of school that might impact their learning in the classroom. Ultimately, asking questions helps teachers and parents work together to support student success in the classroom.

Tip #3: Come Prepared with a Purpose
Parent-Teacher conferences are designed to be concise, often lasting only 15 to 20 minutes. Naturally, there is a lot of information to go over in a relatively short period of time. To make the most out of Parent-Teacher Conferences, teachers advise that you come prepared with a small list of questions or topics you'd like to discuss. Suzanne Lunt and Sofia Bryce, 3rd-grade teachers at Val Vista Lakes Elementary, say, "If parents have specific concerns, they may want to just make a little list so we can make sure to cover everything during the meeting."

What to Expect During Your Conference
When parents arrive at the Parent-Teacher Conference, they can expect to see data that gives them a complete picture of their child's academic progress. Teachers will often have a summary of academic performance, sharing test scores and showing examples of work. This information, combined with grades, is intended to provide parents with a clear and honest view of how their child is doing so far in the school year.

While Parent-Teacher Conferences may be brief, they are just the beginning. These meetings are designed to foster relationships between parents and teachers, so parents can feel comfortable reaching out at any point during the school year. All the teachers interviewed emphasized that they are here to support their students and want parents to feel comfortable reaching out throughout the school year to stay informed about their students' progress.

To learn more about Teaching and Learning across GPS elementary schools, including information on core academic and curriculum, visit GilbertSchools.net/Teaching-Learning.