What Parents Really Want to Know

Ready- Set -Teach! featured on Education World's website, October 29, 2015. 

Innovative Tips for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences

Education World is pleased to present these professional development tips shared by author and educator Jim Gomes.

Part III: What Parents Really Want to Know
 
This list is based on my personal experience of teaching full time for 35 years and conducting in excess of 1,000 parent-teacher interviews. Parents want to know:

• current grade and most recent results;
• behaviour—positive or negative;
• homework completion;
• participation, including how students relate to their peers;
• areas for improvement, both academic and behavioural;
• upcoming evaluations; and
• action plan to improve student grades and resolve other issues.

 
Being able to address each of the above items accurately will require some record keeping in the form of checklists and anecdotal comments.
 
Hint: Don’t be surprised that the majority of parents who show up for interviews are the parents of high achievers. Therefore, it is a good idea to either send a note home or call the parents you need to see the most to set up an interview.