Parents & Teachers as Partners™
Parent Asks:
I will soon be having a parent/teacher conference
at my stepson's school. Being new to the role of step Dad, I'm a little
unsure about what I should ask. Could you share a few guidelines with
me?
Educator Answers:
If the school conference is a "regularly scheduled biannual or
quarterly" event, talk with your spouse about your participation in the
parent/teacher conference. Your involvement communicates your desire to
be an active step Dad. Often at the regularly scheduled conferences, teachers
have observation notes, test evaluations, and samples of the student's
work to share with parents. The evaluations may contain standardized or
teacher-made tests. You can ask the teacher about the tests, your stepson's
progress, and the sample work. Ask if the teacher feels the scores and
samples provide an accurate "snapshot" of your stepson's knowledge, abilities,
and skills.
If the conference is not a regularly scheduled event, but instead is a special conference arranged at the request of the teacher or child's mother or birth father, be sure to check with these individuals to determine the appropriateness of your participation in the conference. You, too, could request time to discuss what may be private issues, either on the phone or a face-to-face conference. Blended families create special circumstances that teachers are aware of and can likely accommodate.
Remember, conferences are not the only time for parent and teacher
communication. Check the notes your child brings home from school and
read the comments the teacher writes on returning homework for information
on your child's learning strengths and weaknesses. Teachers often use
those written communication tools to offer parents ideas for activities
to do at home. Ask how you can best reach the teacher if you have further
questions or concerns and share a phone number or e-mail address about
where and what time is best to reach you.
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