(Chelsea Update would like to thank Kristin Krarup-Joyce, Ed. S. NCSP, Ellen Kent, Ed. S. NCSP and Emily Verbeke, Ed. S. NCSP for the information in this new weekly column.)
If you have a question for one of the school psychologists, please email [email protected]. All information will be kept confidential.
Question: How can I make the most of my time during parent-teacher conferences?
Answer: At the elementary level, Chelsea School District schedules parent-teacher conferences in 15-minute blocks. At the middle school, conferences are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Teachers are positioned in different areas (cafeteria and gym) and parents wait in line for brief sessions. At the high school, conferences are split into two different evenings. The first is stadium-style. The teachers are at tables in the Commons area and parents wait in line to see them for 10-minute sessions.
The second evening, which is held a week later, involves parents making individual appointments with teachers. For this evening the sessions are in the teachers’ classrooms.
Whether you are a parent in the Chelsea School District, or with a different district, the challenge is the same. The time allotted is always too short, even if your child is progressing well in her/his grade. Despite this, conferences are a valuable way to gain insight on how your child is doing in school and how to support their learning at home.
Here are some suggested questions to ask during parent-teacher conferences:Is my child performing at grade level in reading? math?
- Does my child have strengths and weaknesses in major subject areas that I may not know about?
- Does my child need additional help in any subject? In social adjustment? In study skills?
- Has my child regularly completed class work?
- Has my child regularly completed homework?
- Does my child get along well with teachers and students?
- What can I do at home to better support my child’s learning?
