Coming prepared will help you get the most from parent-teacher conferences. Following are some ideas to help you talk to teachers and on the road to an effective relationship with your child's teachers.

  1. What would you like to know about my child? 
  2. How can I help you to help my child? 
  3. Can I see a list of what you expect the class to learn by the end of the year? 
  4. What can I work on right now at home to help my child stay ahead in class? 
  5. How does my child act at school? 
  6. What motivates my child and makes learning easier? What doesn’t seem to work? 
  7. What books would be good for my child? 
  8. What tutoring or enrichment opportunities might be good for my child? 
  9. What’s the best way to contact you?

Before you meet with the teacher, write — yep, write — your own list of questions; it beats waiting until the drive home to remember what you really wanted to talk about.

Bryan Taylor, publisher of EduGuide, is a speaker for parents, students and educators featured in a televised dialogue with the U.S. Secretary of Education.