Preparing for the parent-teacher conference

Make a list of things that will help the teacher understand your child.
• Any special medical or health problems
• Important experiences that may be affecting your child (death in the family, best friend moving away, etc.)
• Outside interests and hobbies
• Feelings about school
• Relationships with brothers and sisters
• Study habits at home

Make a list of things you want to find out from the teacher. For example:
• Services and programs the school offers
• Discipline policies
• Grading policies
• Extra-curricular activities
• Daily schedules
• Homework policies
• Health and safety programs

Things you will learn from your child’s teacher at the conference
• Your child’s test results and what they mean
• What subjects your child is taking and how he or she is doing.
• Your child’s strengths and weaknesses in school
• Any observations that can be helpful
• Your child’s current level in reading and math, including some samples of the work he or she has done
• The books and materials your child is using
• How s/he gets along with others
• How s/he feels about her/himself
• Your child’s behavior in and out of class

Your child will undoubtedly be curious about the conference:
• Tell the child what was discussed (omitting any information s/he may not be mature enough to understand)
• Talk about any changes or new plans for improvement
• Be positive. The better your child feels about him/herself, the better he or she will do in school.


Using everyday activities to help your child in school

Learning and opportunities for learning are all around us. Parents can use many different activities to help their children academically.

USING THE NEWSPAPER AS A LEARNING TOOL
The newspaper can be as important to your child as it is to you. There are many ways you can initiate your son or daughter's interest by using a variety of creative approaches.

Use the newspaper to develop life skills.
Have your child add and subtract coupons, read about faraway places, etc.

Use the newspaper to develop “thinking” skills.
For example, if your child has a sports hero, help him read the Sports section to see how his or her hero is doing. For older children, talk about bias, morals, and consequences of actions.

Use the newspaper to motivate your child.
For example, if your child has a high interest in movies, have him or her read about new and upcoming movies. Or use the classifieds in a creative way – “If you want that puppy for your birthday, then let’s look in the newspaper for one.”

Use the newspaper to create a reading time for the whole family.
Enjoy quality family time by reading the newspaper together. Become a role model by consistently reading the newspaper during this time. If your child sees you reading the newspaper, he or she will be motivated to do the same.

Use specialty newspapers.
There are a variety of newspapers designed for children who are not quite old enough to comprehend an “adult” newspaper. The same is true for magazines. And don’t forget online resources, too.

Newspapers can instill responsibility.
A young child could be responsible for bringing n the newspaper and distributing the sections among family members. An oder child could pursue a first job as a newspaper delivery person.

USING TELEVISION AS A LEARNING TOOL
No one can deny the importance of television to most members of society. However, too much television can interfere with your child's valuable learning time. With planning, television can be an asset to the learning process.

Turn it off!
As a parent, you need to be a role model – turn the TV set off. Have your child see you read newspapers, books and other materials daily. Use a VCR to record shows that you simply cannot miss.

Keep a dictionary near the TV to look up unknown or unclear words.
You can expand your child’s vocabulary by looking up unknown or unclear words and their pronunciation.

Use a TV to learn to read and write.
Select programs to view together as a fmily. Discuss the program to see what your child has learned, and ask them to write down words and key phrases that best describe the show. Or, have them write down words that come to mind to describe the program they are watching.

Encourage your child to read the TV guide.
Have yoru child highligh programst that are interesting to them, then record these shows for future viewing. This allows you to limit the amount of television they watch, as well as control the quality of what they are viewing.

Have your child keep a journal or log of the TV shows he or she watches while you are at work.
Have him or her write a summary of the program(s) s/he has seen. Instruct him/her to narrate, persuade, reason, and/or describe why they liked or disliked a particular program.

Use videos to add emphasis to books your child has recently read.
Or encourage your child to read a novel on which a recently viewed movie was based. Discuss similarities and differences, expectations and disappointments.

Talk about alternatives to a solution shown on TV.
Encourage your child to copy a recipe from a cooking show and prepare it.

Preparing for report cards

Report card time usually brings increased anxiety and tension in households. Many attribute this to parents who wish their child had done better, and students who are afraid of their parents’ reaction.

Be aware of when report cards are distrubted.
Report cards are usually distributed within two weeks of the end of the quarter or semester.

Keep an open mind

Don’t get upset.
Remain calm and discuss the grades with your child.

Show support and encouragement.
Look for positive reinforcements you can give your child.

Praise achievement.
Did your child’s attendance increase? Are there positive comments from teachers? Did any grades increase from the last report card?

Remember, report cards show your child’s progress in school.
There is always room for improvement.

Follow up with your child’s teachers.
Especially if you have any questions that need to be answered or would like to explore a course of action to improve grades.