PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES PLANNED
by Patty Novicki
January 25, 2012
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, February 8th. Conferences will begin at 5:30 pm and will conclude at 8:00 pm in the elementary building. Elementary teachers will be holding conferences in their classrooms and the secondary staff will be in the multi-purpose room. Attendance at the conferences is urged as we are all in this together. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you.
The scholastic book fair will take place the same week. The night of conferences, the book fair will be open as well. Hours of the book fair are: Tuesday, Feb. 7th-8:00 am-5:00 pm; Wednesday, Feb. 8th-8:00 am-8:00 pm; Thursday, Feb. 9th-8:00 am-4:00 pm. All proceeds will benefit the Dodge Public Schools library. We thank you for your support.
A student's success in school often results from the combined efforts of two of the most important people in that student's life: parents and teachers. Notice I said parents and teachers. Too often, parent-teacher conferences are full of one-way communication; the teacher does all the talking. But the aim of every conference with parents should be for both parties to share information that will begin a conversation that has the student's best interests at its core. Listed below are some tips for parents/guardians.
TIPS FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
1. The biggest mistake parents make is not attending.
2. Don't expect the teacher to do all of the talking. Parents know their children best. Give the teacher the benefit of your insight.
3. Tell the teacher specifically what you want your child to achieve. For example, organizational skills, math.........
4. Come prepared with questions. Write them down if necessary. For example, "What are your expectations?" or "How does my child behave in class?"
5. Don't consider the conference a one-time event. If there are matters requiring more discussion, ask for additional meetings before or after school.
6. If you are not happy, bring your concerns to light.
7. Understand that the conference is a freeze-frame in your child's progress.
8. If comfortable, reveal to the teacher outside factors that may be influencing a child's behavior or performance, such as a death in the family, divorce, or medical concerns.
9. Ask for ways you can work with your student at home to reinforce what the teacher does in class.
10. Attend with an open mind and listen to suggestions.
*Omaha World Herald
