You Are Attending Conferences…Right?

Greetings!

Does it seem as though the school year is quickly passing?  Here in Michigan most school districts are preparing for what I believe will be the last parent/teacher conference of the year.  Think about it, in a few months summer break will be here!  This is the perfect time for us to talk about the importance of and preparation for parent/teacher conference.

By now it is my hope you have been monitoring your child’s education experience this school year. Who are the “friends” they talk about the most, what are the names of their teachers as well as comments regarding them, any problems or issues your child might have mentioned? Each of these and more should be a part of your “fact gathering” mission in order to provide you with some degree of understanding of how your child’s school year is going thus far.

As an educator and former parent advisory board participant for whatever reasons,  getting parents to attend conferences is sadly an ongoing challenge for most school districts. Even when my son was in school I never fully understood that fact.  In spite of single parenting and a career that consisted of travel, I never missed a conference. How could I miss, my son was too important to me.  His school environment was too important to me, what he was being taught was too important to me, how he was being treated and reflected was too important to me, the mannerism and attitude of his teachers including principal was too important to me, and for his teachers to know I was involved was too important to me. Simply put I was prepared, and I was there.

As you approach what is most likely your child’s last conference of the year, here are some tips to help you prepare.  Grab a small notebook and write down any questions you might have regarding your child’s performance thus far, ask your child if he or she has any questions or concerns regarding their school, classrooms, or their teacher and be specific in your understanding of what their concerns are.  Has your child ever been disciplined at school and if so, what was the situation and were your notified accordingly?  Are there any behavioral concerns?  What is your child being taught particularly regarding history and is it factual?  Is your child reflected in the books you see on the shelves in each classroom?  If not, why not?

You see, the only way you can answer any of these question or have any understanding of your child’s environment is to “be there”.  It’s our duty as a parent to show up regardless of challenges.  I am certain your child’s school will do their part in order to accommodate you regarding flexibility in scheduling, but it’s our part as parents to be there for our children whether we are single or not.

So, send that message to your child’s school as well as to your child that you care, and because you care, you will be there.

Please share any thoughts, concerns, questions, or experiences.  I would love to hear from you!

Peace!