I want to know that they are inspired to do their best and that they’re engaged. What I do want to hear about is their work ethic and their general attitude toward school. A classic thumbs up will suffice for the entire academic segment of the conversation. Unless their teacher has surprising educational news like our son bonked his head and forgot how to count, I don’t want to hear it. I ask this question just to show the very tiniest nod to the academic side of the parent-teacher conference - the side I attribute the least amount of value to. You can help them light that spark - and you may even help them find a lifelong passion. If you play your cards right, you’ll walk away with the fuel you need to spark your child’s imagination and creativity for years to come. This may honestly be the most important inside scoop teachers have to offer. Maybe they got really into a unit on poetry, or they loved playing volleyball in P.E., or maybe they like to dance around the classroom. Odds are that your little ones will bump into several things throughout the school year that piqued their interest - and I want to know about every single one of them. I would absolutely hate for them to miss an opportunity to pursue a lifelong passion because we somehow never heard about their interest. If done right, school is an amazing opportunity for kids to discover new things and pursue their interests. And I’d do anything to help find the next thing that inspires them and gives their life meaning. Nothing makes me happier than seeing our kids excited about life. After that I could walk away full of pride - without saying a single word about school work. I want to know that they are helpful, kind, and thoughtful - and that means with the teachers as well. Nothing would make me happier at a parent-teacher conference than hearing about our kids standing up to bullies, or playing with kids who seemed lonely. And the same is true if you truly value kindness and happiness above all else. If their parents value athletic ability and good grades more than anything else, their child will absorb those values. If you want to raise a kind and considerate child, you have to realize that children are sponges and they are more aware and more wise than we sometimes give them credit for. Our actions reflect upon who we are - and I believe that our relationships with others is basically the meaning of life. Treating others with kindness is at the very top of my priority list that I want to pass on to the kids. If you’re a regular reader, you’ve probably noticed that we read A LOT of books that teach empathy with our kids. This has always and will always be my number one question for my children’s teachers. And they are absolutely hidden away somewhere in that treasure trove of knowledge known as the teacher’s brain. It doesn’t matter if your child is in kindergarten or in 8th grade - the answers to these questions are things you’ll want to know. So, whether this is your 1st or your 97th parent-teacher conference, give these questions a spin at your next meeting. But, if you don’t ask the right questions, the odds are that they’ll just stick to the script and tell you how they’re doing in class. Social and emotional skills deserve just as much emphasis as academic skills, if not more. That’s why it’s so helpful and so important to be on the same page with your child’s teacher - and that’s why I always ask them the questions on this list.įrom a teacher’s point of view, it’s actually very heartening to hear when parents want to know more information about the whole child. Kids spend a lot of time around their teachers, and they have the ability to be very strong role models in their lives. Good teachers know full well that they’re playing a big role in raising these kids. I want my kids to know that message well - and I want their teachers to know I feel that way too. It would be an absolute tragedy if all you learned from meeting with them is what their math grade is and how many words they can read in a minute. Your kid spends hours upon hours with these people every single day. On the other hand, If you aren’t properly prepared, the conversation you’re about to have is in real danger of veering into a useless recitation of missing assignments and letter grades. But, honestly, these very important thoughts might never even occur to them if you aren’t ready to start the conversation. If you’re willing to ask the right questions, they can tell you the most incredible things about your little ones. I assure you, your child’s teacher is a treasure trove of knowledge waiting to be explored.
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