As a parent, you rarely get to see your child in their daily school environment. That said, you are likely very curious about your child’s performance, skills, challenges, and behavior in the classroom. Though your child will share the highlights of their classroom experience, you may also benefit from hearing their teacher’s perspective at a parent-teacher conference.
Parent-teacher conferences are a valuable opportunity to get to know school educators, learn about your child’s classroom experiences, and discover ways to help your student outside the classroom. St. Timothy’s School hosts parent-teacher conferences for our pre-kindergarten, lower, and middle school parents. Below, we have created a guide for parents on what to ask at their parent-teacher conferences.
Questions about Academic Performance
One of the main goals of parent-teacher conferences is to gain deeper insight into your child’s academic performance. Attending a parent-teacher conference enables you to learn more about your child’s academic strengths and discover areas where they might need extra support. Below are some questions you could ask:
- What are some of my child’s academic strengths?
- What are some of my child’s academic challenges?
- Is my child at their correct reading level?
- What can I do at home to support my child’s academic growth?
- How does my child perform in each specific subject?
Questions about Social-Emotional Skills
A student’s social-emotional development is just as important as their academic learning. And while much of their social-emotional growth starts at home, it escalates when they start school and begin interacting with new people and environments. Teachers witness children’s early social-emotional development first-hand as they see how students interact with one another daily. As a parent, some questions you could ask about your child’s social-emotional growth include:
- How does my child perform in collaborative projects?
- How does my child do in social situations?
- Does my child enjoy class discussions and interacting with their peers?
- How is my child’s behavior in the classroom?
- How is my child’s behavior during recess?
Questions about Communication
As a parent, you and your child’s teachers must work together to pave a successful pathway for your child’s education. Forming a positive relationship with solid and effective communication is the best way to do this. Parent-teacher conferences are a great example of opportunities to connect with your child’s teachers. However, it doesn’t have to stop there. At your conference, inquire about new methods to connect and communicate with teachers by asking the following questions:
- What is your preferred contact method?
- How can I stay informed about school updates?
- How can I stay informed about my child’s success?
- What are ways I can get involved at the school?
Questions about the Classroom
After sending your child to school every day, you might wonder what their daily routine entails. From class schedules to free time at recess, your child’s school environment will likely be a topic of discussion at your parent-teacher conference. If you want to learn more about your student’s day-to-day life at school, you might ask questions like:
- What is my child’s daily schedule?
- How long is recess?
- What kinds of activities do children engage in at recess?
- How often do you schedule tests, quizzes, and homework?
- How is technology used in the classroom?
Private Education at St. Timothy’s School
St. Timothy’s School is a private school in Raleigh, NC, that helps students build academic, intellectual, and spiritual foundations to guide them throughout their lives. We pride ourselves in our nurturing community of academic excellence that instills the knowledge, skills, and values of a life with purpose. Visit our website today to learn more about St. Timothy’s School.
