PARENT - TEACHER CONFERENCES
Mutual understanding between the home and school is fundamental to the educational and psychological growth of a child. The parent-teacher conference is a means to this end. Each teacher is encouraged to make frequent informal contact with parents via Good News Reports, notes, and phone calls. If the parent feels the teacher is working with them for the benefit of their son/ daughter, the chances of a successful educational experience increase. During formal Parent Teacher conference days, each teacher is required to contact at least ten (10) parents.
Get-togethers between individual parents and teachers supplement the report card in great numbers of the nation's schools, and the practice is spreading. Why? Because an informal face-to-face meeting gives both the parent and the teacher an opportunity for full exploration of a studemt's progress, behavior, and the reasons behind successes and failures.
The resulting two-way exchange of information will help parents understand their child's progress in school more fully and help the teacher to more effectively teach.
To prepare for a Parent Teacher conference teachers are to complete a parent teacher conference form and collect any data or examples of the student's work he/ she feels would be helpful. Examples of things teachers may hope to learn from the parent are:
1. What is the student's reaction to school? Is there something he/she especially likes or dislikes?
2. What is the student's health? What recent illness, disability, or accident has he or she had that could influence the rate of learning?
3. How is the student's emotional adjustment? Are there any "little things" troubling him/ her?
4. How does the student spend the time out of school?
5. Which disciplinary measures work best with the student at home?
6. What hobbies, special interests, and abilities has the student shown at home?
7. Does the student have home responsibilities?
8. Does the student have suitable space for study at home?